«I am waiting for Russia to arrive, and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take»: Zelenskyy on talks in Turkey

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he expects Russia to inform him about its representatives at the talks in Turkey, after which Ukraine will determine its further actions.

He said this in his evening address.

«We have held several meetings on the format of the talks in Turkey. I am waiting for the Russian delegation to arrive, and then we will decide what steps to take. So far, the signals from them are unconvincing. There are also reports that President Trump is considering a visit to Turkey. This could be a strong argument. A week can bring significant changes, but everything is still being decided», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He also noted that on Wednesday, Russia attacked Ukraine with attack drones and ballistic missiles: «At a time when the world expects Putin to simply «yes» to the offer of direct talks, he continues to shell Ukraine», the president added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he had no information on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the talks in Istanbul on 15 May. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of his own participation in the event.

It should be noted that the Kremlin is still not ready to name the composition of the Russian delegation, but confirms that its representatives will be waiting for the Ukrainian side in Istanbul.

According to the Washington Post, Russia may be represented at the talks by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Adviser on International Affairs Yurii Ushakov.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he was looking forward to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey.