Kyiv, May 12
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday expressed willingness to hold discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to end the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
This statement came shortly after US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to immediately agree to the negotiations proposed by Russian President Putin, which could take place in Turkey on May 15.
"Here in Ukraine, we have absolutely no problem engaging in negotiations, we are ready for any format. I will be in Turkey this Thursday, May 15, and I expect Putin to come to Turkey as well. Personally. And I hope that this time, Putin won't be looking for excuses as to why he "can't" make it. We are ready to talk, to end this war. President Trump has expressed support. All the leaders support this," Zelensky posted on X.
Earlier on Sunday, addressing reporters in the Kremlin, Putin proposed to the Kyiv authorities to resume direct talks without preconditions that Ukraine had interrupted in 2022.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Putin's proposal to hold direct talks with the Kyiv authorities confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis.
"This is a very serious proposal, which confirms the real intention to find a peaceful solution," he said during a broadcast on the Russian TV channel, commenting on Putin's initiative.