Zelenskyy talks about preparations for talks in Turkey
14 May 23:15
The Ukrainian side has several options for reaching a truce, but the decisions depend on the level of Russian participation in potential negotiations. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“Today we held several meetings with the team regarding the format in Turkey. I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take. The signals from them in the media are still unconvincing. But we are also hearing that (US) President Donald Trump is considering being in Turkey. So this could be the strongest argument. A week can really change a lot, but it can… Now all this is being decided,” the head of state said.
Zelensky added that on Wednesday, Russia launched attack drones and ballistic missiles into Ukraine.
“When the whole world expects Putin to simply answer ‘yes’ to the offer of direct negotiations, he continues to strike at Ukraine,” the head of state said.
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What to expect in Istanbul
On the night of May 11, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced his readiness for direct talks with the Ukrainian side, which are to take place in Istanbul on May 15. However, in his statement, he did not mention a single word about a possible 30-day ceasefire, as the Ukrainian side and its partners want.
US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine must urgently agree to the talks in Turkey proposed by Putin for May 15. At the same time, the American president did not pay attention to the absence of a 30-day truce clause in the Kremlin’s proposal.
Nevertheless, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed and wrote that he would personally wait for Putin in Turkey to meet on May 15. At the same time, he expressed hope that the ceasefire would begin on May 12.
The Kremlin has officially confirmed that it is preparing for the talks, but has not said who will attend them.
Russia has not accepted the ceasefire.
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