Zelenskyy told what he will talk to Putin about

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: RBC-Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he intends to discuss a complete ceasefire if he meets with Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky said this during a meeting with journalists on Tuesday, 13 May.

«We will do everything to make this meeting happen. If Putin is really ready to meet not only in the media, but in real life. And then, at the level of leaders, we will do everything to agree on a ceasefire. Because it is with him that I have to negotiate a ceasefire. Because only he decides on this,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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The President also noted that if the Kremlin was ready for an unconditional ceasefire, it would open the way to larger-scale negotiations to end the war.

Zelenskyy also expressed hope that US President Donald Trump would join the talks.

«We have invited President Trump to join. I don't know the decision of the President of the United States of America, but in any case, if he confirmed his participation, I think it would have an additional impetus for Putin to come,» Zelenskyy said.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that on 15 May he would travel to Turkey to hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The media reported that US President Donald Trump would send special representatives Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to Turkey for talks.

Earlier, the Russian president's spokesman Dmitrii Peskov said that he could not yet name the names of the Russian representatives who would take part in the peace talks with Ukraine scheduled for 15 May in Istanbul.

As a reminder, on 11 May, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his desire to resume direct talks with Ukraine, which were suspended at the end of 2022. He also said that he planned to address Turkish President Recep Erdogan with a proposal to organise the talks.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin' s proposal for direct talks, calling it a «good sign». However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that a ceasefire was needed first to really start a dialogue with Russia.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to hold talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on 15 May.

US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should accept the Kremlin's offer to hold direct talks in Istanbul on 15 May: «Have that meeting, now».

Subsequently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he was looking forward to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 May in Turkey.