Kyiv/Moscow, May 13 (EFE).— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday ruled out talks with Russian officials and insists he will only meet face-to-face with President Vladimir Putin, who has yet to confirm his attendance at proposed peace talks in Turkey.
This underscoring Kyiv’s push to hold Moscow directly able for ending the war as the invitation is for a potential meeting in Istanbul on Thursday.
Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian Presidential Office, said Zelenskyy would “of course not” meet with anyone other than Putin, signaling Kyiv’s refusal to legitimize indirect talks.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia plans to send a delegation to Turkey but declined to name any participants.
“When the president deems it necessary, we will announce it,” Peskov told reporters during his daily press conference.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Thursday.
If Putin agrees to the talks, both leaders are expected to travel to Istanbul for what would be their first in-person meeting since 2019, when they last met in Paris under the Normandy Format.
The Ukrainian leader is determined not to allow Putin any excuse to avoid attending in person.
Kyiv hopes that if the meeting takes place, Putin will agree to a ceasefire that could pave the way for more detailed negotiations.
Ukraine and Russia have not held direct peace talks since the failed negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.
On Sunday, Putin declined to extend a short-lived unilateral ceasefire declared for the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.
However, he expressed willingness to hold direct negotiations with Kyiv on Thursday in Istanbul, prompting Zelenskyy to challenge him publicly to meet face-to-face.
Trump Signals
The potential summit has garnered from US President Donald Trump, who has refrained from criticizing Russia’s refusal to declare a broader ceasefire, despite calls from Washington for de-escalation.
Trump has even said he is considering attending the talks in Turkey if they happen.
According to CNN, Trump will send two representatives: Steve Witkoff, his special envoy for the Middle East and Russia, and Keith Kellogg, his envoy to Ukraine.
Europe Pushes for Ceasefire
European leaders are watching developments closely. ’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Tuesday that Berlin and other European allies are prepared to impose new sanctions on Russia if peace efforts fail this week.
“Now the ball is in Russia’s court,” Merz said. Over the weekend in Kyiv, he ed leaders from , the UK, and Poland in threatening additional sanctions if Moscow failed to declare a 30-day ceasefire by Monday.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of “consequences” should Russia undermine the planned negotiations in Turkey.“Russia cannot leave the chair empty. If it truly wants peace, it must show up,” he said.
From Copenhagen, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, criticized what she called a lack of genuine Russian interest in ending the war.
“Putin has clearly shown that he still wants the war,” said Kallas. She praised Zelenskyy’s initiative to propose direct talks and cast doubt on whether Putin “would dare” to attend. EFE
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