Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to travel to Ankara this Thursday for potential face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as global pressure intensifies to end the war that has lasted over three years.
Zelenskyy stated he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and wait for Putin’s arrival, expressing his readiness to shift the meeting to Istanbul if necessary.
Despite Ukraine’s readiness, the Kremlin has not confirmed Putin’s participation. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to say whether the president would attend, although Russia has agreed to send a delegation to Istanbul without preconditions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported the smallest drone attack of the year overnight, which some analysts interpret as a potential gesture toward de-escalation. The coming days may prove crucial as the world watches to see if direct negotiations will take place.