ALBAWABA – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Sunday that he expects a full and permanent ceasefire to take effect starting Monday, laying the groundwork for renewed diplomatic efforts. He also confirmed his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday.
“We anticipate a complete and lasting ceasefire beginning tomorrow to enable serious diplomacy,” Zelensky said in a statement. “There is no reason to delay the end of the bloodshed. I will be waiting for President Putin in Turkey this Thursday, and I hope the Russians won’t search for new excuses to avoid the meeting.”
In a parallel development, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia’s openness to talks and blamed Kyiv for stalling past negotiations. Speaking at a press conference with domestic and foreign journalists, Putin said, “The authorities in Kyiv have never responded to our ceasefire proposals. However, we have never refused dialogue.”
Putin added that he plans to discuss the possibility of new negotiations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and proposed resuming direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, without any preconditions.
President Erdoğan expressed support for the initiative and affirmed Turkey’s willingness to host the negotiations in Istanbul. The move reflects Ankara's ongoing role as a regional mediator between the two warring sides.
The announcement signals a potential return to peace efforts that began in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine. Initial rounds of talks in Belarus and later in Istanbul produced limited progress.
Notably, during a meeting on March 29, 2022, Ukrainian negotiators submitted a written proposal to Moscow, which included commitments to neutrality and pledges not to host foreign—especially nuclear—weaponry on Ukrainian soil. However, Kyiv eventually pulled out of the talks, halting the negotiation process.
The renewed momentum raises cautious optimism about the potential for a diplomatic breakthrough, as both sides prepare for a possible high-stakes summit in Turkey.
