Zelenskyy reveals what he plans to discuss with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that if his conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin does take place, he will negotiate a full ceasefire.

Source: Zelenskyy, speaking to journalists on 13 May

Quote: "We will do everything we can to make this meeting happen, if Putin is truly ready, not just in the media but in real life, to meet. And then at leader level we will do everything we can to agree on a ceasefire. Because he is the one I have to negotiate a ceasefire with. Because he is the only one who decides on it."

Details: Zelenskyy said that if Putin expresses willingness for an unconditional ceasefire during the negotiations, it will open the way for more detailed talks about ending the war as a whole.

Zelesnkyy also expressed hope that his US counterpart Donald Trump will join his talks with Putin.

Quote: "We have invited President Trump to join. I don’t know what the president of the United States has decided, but in any case, if he confirmed his participation, it would add extra momentum to get Putin to come."

Background:

• Zelenskyy said he is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Thursday, but if Putin agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdoğan are prepared to travel there instead.
• Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s special envoys, will travel to Istanbul, where talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Thursday.
• Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that if Putin refuses to attend talks in Türkiye, this will indicate that Russia does not want to end the war.
• Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that the Russian side is continuing its preparations for the talks in Istanbul on 15 May and is not providing any further comments.

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