 "(L-R) US President Donald Trump; Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Russian President Vladimir Putin")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is open to “any format” of negotiations to end the war with Russia ahead of Thursday’s talks in Istanbul, but added that Ukraine’s approach will depend on who represents Russia at the meeting.
“Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations, and we are not afraid of meetings. Tomorrow – in Turkey,” AFP quoted Zelenskyy as saying during his daily address.
“I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia. Then I will decide what steps Ukraine should take,” he added.
The Kremlin has not yet announced its delegation for the talks.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin remained unconfirmed for what could be the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years, as the Kremlin on Wednesday declined to reveal who would represent Russia.
Putin on Sunday proposed holding talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday “without any preconditions,” but offered no clarity on the Russian delegation. His spokesperson provided no additional details when pressed on Wednesday.
Trump, earlier this week, called on Ukraine to attend the talks. President Zelenskyy agreed —on the condition that Putin himself would be present — setting the stage for a diplomatic standoff as both leaders appear keen to frame themselves as the true proponents of peace.
Trump said on Wednesday he himself was still considering whether to attend the talks in Turkey but did not know whether Putin would go, something that Zelenskyy has challenged the Kremlin leader to do “if he’s not afraid”.
“(Putin) would like me to be there, and that’s a possibility… I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTrump wants the two sides to sign up to a 30-day ceasefire in what is Europe’s biggest land war since World War Two, and a Russian lawmaker said on Wednesday there could also be discussions about a huge prisoner of war exchange, reported Reuters.
Zelenskyy backs an immediate 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has said he first wants to start talks at which the details of such a ceasefire could be discussed.
With inputs from agencies