Zelenskyy Says He Will Be Waiting Putin in Ankara for Peace Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will wait in Ankara for Russian President Vladimir Putin to join peace talks. The high-stakes summit is backed by U.S. President Trump and Turkish President Erdogan. Putin has yet to confirm his attendance as tensions and drone attacks continue.
Zelenskyy-Putin Peace Talks Quick Looks:
- Zelenskyy to be in Ankara Thursday for direct peace talks
- Putin hasn’t confirmed attendance; Russia remains noncommittal
- U.S. and EU pressuring both sides toward ceasefire
- Russian drones continue attacks amid negotiation uncertainty
- Kremlin offers delegation but gives no assurance on Putin
- Ukraine insists only Zelenskyy-Putin talks will be valid
- Western nations warn of sanctions if Putin dodges summit
- Russia rejects Ukraine’s proposed unconditional 30-day ceasefire
- Peace process marred by mistrust, continued battlefield clashes
- U.S. Secretary of State coordinating with EU allies on response
Deep Look: Zelenskyy Challenges Putin to Join Ankara Peace Talks
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a bold ultimatum Tuesday, stating he will wait in Ankara this Thursday for Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage in direct peace talks amid the ongoing war. The announcement marks a pivotal moment in international efforts to halt a conflict now stretching into its fourth year.
While Zelenskyy has committed to face-to-face negotiations, the Kremlin has remained evasive. Putin has yet to confirm whether he will travel to Turkey, creating uncertainty around the summit. Still, Zelenskyy remains resolute, signaling that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will wait for Putin in Ankara — or, if necessary, Istanbul.
“If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv. His comments were a direct challenge to Russia’s willingness to seek a peaceful resolution.
U.S. and Turkish Mediation in Focus
U.S. President Donald Trump and President Erdogan have both pushed for these talks to happen, seeing them as a critical opportunity to stop the fighting. Washington, in particular, has increased diplomatic pressure on both sides since Trump began his second term, promising to bring an end to the war.
Despite these efforts, the Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied Putin’s participation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Tuesday that no travel plans had been finalized and that any official announcement would come “when the president considers it necessary.”
Russia has, however, signaled it will send a delegation to Istanbul, though without confirming who would lead it or whether the delegation would have decision-making power.
Zelenskyy Sets Conditions for Direct Dialogue
Ukrainian officials made it clear that Zelenskyy will not engage with any Russian representatives except Putin himself. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, said that lower-level negotiations would only serve to “drag out” any peace initiative and delay meaningful outcomes.
“If this is just another tactic from Moscow, we will treat it accordingly,” Podolyak added during an appearance on a YouTube channel hosted by exiled Russian journalists.
European leaders have echoed Ukraine’s frustration, accusing Moscow of stalling while intensifying military efforts. The Institute for the Study of War noted this week that Russia has been actively recruiting new soldiers to bolster front-line units, suggesting preparation for a renewed spring-summer offensive.
Drone Attacks Undermine Ceasefire Efforts
The diplomatic push comes amid fresh Russian drone strikes on Ukrainian territory. On Monday night, Ukraine’s air force reported ten Shahed drones and decoys were launched — the lightest bombardment so far in 2025, but a reminder that attacks remain routine.
The drone assault came just after Western leaders proposed a 30-day ceasefire starting this week — a proposal that Russia effectively rejected. In place of an immediate truce, Moscow offered direct talks, but without agreeing to halt its ongoing attacks.
Ukrainian officials argue that negotiations cannot proceed while the nation remains under constant fire.
“We are ready for any format of negotiations, but a ceasefire must come first,” said Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, in a virtual address to the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025.
Constitutional and Political Tensions Add Complexity
Putin continues to cast doubt on Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his presidential term in 2024. Ukraine, currently under martial law, constitutionally cannot hold national elections — further complicating the optics and legitimacy of leadership during wartime.
Meanwhile, a 2022 Ukrainian decree formally bans negotiations with Putin. Despite that law, Zelenskyy’s willingness to sit with his Russian counterpart signals a potential policy pivot under international pressure.
U.S. and EU Monitor Developments Closely
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met virtually with senior European diplomats from the U.K., France, Germany, and Poland on Monday to discuss the peace process. The group discussed sanctions and strategies for a potential ceasefire, though no new punitive actions were announced.
While the West has promised further sanctions if Russia fails to commit to peace, the lack of enforcement so far raises concerns about credibility.
As Thursday approaches, the world waits to see whether Putin will respond to Zelenskyy’s public invitation or continue to engage through proxies. Either way, the Ankara meeting may be a turning point — or yet another missed opportunity — in this prolonged and devastating war.
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