Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly proposed a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on Thursday, signaling a potential turning point in the long-running conflict.

“There is no justification for further bloodshed. I will be waiting for President Putin in Türkiye on Thursday—personally,” Zelensky posted on X (formerly Twitter), shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Kyiv to accept Russia’s proposal for direct talks.

Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s stance that meaningful dialogue must begin only after a ceasefire is in place. “We are expecting a complete and enduring ceasefire starting tomorrow to lay the groundwork for diplomacy,” he added.

The renewed momentum for negotiations follows a summit in Kyiv on Saturday, where European leaders—dubbed the “coalition of the willing”—called for a 30-day pause in hostilities, set to begin Monday. The appeal was swiftly followed by Putin’s offer for “serious negotiations.”

In a social media post, Trump called on Ukraine to “agree immediately” to the proposed talks, describing it as a crucial step to determine if a peace deal is achievable. “If not, the U.S. and Europe will at least have clarity and can act accordingly,” he wrote.

Putin, in a late-night address, suggested the talks could mark the start of a sustainable peace, although he stopped short of endorsing the proposed 30-day truce. He emphasized the talks should not serve as a tactical pause for Ukraine to regroup militarily.

Moscow has maintained that Western military aid to Ukraine must cease before it considers halting its offensive.

While both sides have now expressed conditional openness to diplomacy, key differences remain unresolved. The last direct talks took place in Istanbul in March 2022, and whether this latest proposal results in progress or deadlock remains to be seen.

SMS/