Zelnski: If Putin comes, I will go to Istanbul

According to RCO News Agency, Ukrainian President Walodimir Zelnski said Tuesday that he would meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, May 9, referring to possible peace talks with Russia in Istanbul.

Rasha Todi reported that Zleansky had released a video message about his conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying: “I had a targeted interview with President Erdogan. I appreciate him. I reaffirmed my readiness for direct and fundamental negotiations with Putin.

“Ukraine has always supported diplomacy,” he said. I am ready to travel to Türkiye. Unfortunately, the world has not yet received a clear response from Russia for numerous ceasefire proposals. Russian attacks are still ongoing. Moscow is still silent about the proposal of direct negotiations.

The Ukrainian president emphasized: Russia must end the war in any way that it is as soon as possible. Ukraine did not want this war even for a second.

“President Trump’s full support for the meeting is very important and we would like to find the opportunity to travel to Turkey,” Zelksky said of US support for direct talks. We have invited Trump to join the Istanbul talks.

Trump had said that if he had an impact on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, he would be willing to go to Istanbul on his visit to the Arab countries. He has begun his trip to West Asia from Saudi Arabia and is currently in Riyadh. The US president also plans to travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Ankara has been ignorant of any US president’s plan to participate in the negotiations in Istanbul.

However, three sources informed by Reuters said Steve Witakaf and Kate Clag, senior presidential representatives, are scheduled to travel to Istanbul for Ukrainian peace talks.

“We expect the US and the European Union to impose severe sanctions on Russia if Istanbul’s peace talks are not conducted,” Rasha Todi said in a message today.

He added: “We have to talk directly with Putin about the ceasefire, because only he has the authority to execute it.”

The end of the message