“No, of course not.” (…) That is not the format Said Podoliak when asked about the possibility that the Ukrainian President agreed to meet with a Russian leader of lower rank, according to the Ukrainian publication Kyiv Independent.
The Kremlin leader has not given, for the moment, response to Zelenski’s offer of Get this May 15 in Türkiye.
Putin proposed on Sunday, May 11 that both sides Start direct contacts In Istanbul, without the need to declare the 30 -day fire that Ukraine and its main European partners demand before.
Zelenski responded to Putin’s offer by calling Turkey that same Thursday, for which it would be the First meeting of both leaders since the beginning of the Russian large -scale invasion more than three years ago.
Donald Trump’s participation in Peace Negotiations with Russia in Türkiye would give an “impulse” to attend the Russian president Vladimir Putin estimated on Tuesday the Ukrainian president.
–We invite President Trump to join us. I do not know the decision of the US President, but if he confirms his participation, I think he would give an additional impulse for Putin to come, ”said Zelenski at a press conference in kyiv.
—The Russian part continues to prepare the conversations planned on Thursday. That is all we can say right now. We are not going to make comments For now, ”the spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, told the press.
Also read: Trump and Putin agree a “limited” truce while the war in Ukraine continues
-I think that Putin does not want the war to end, does not want a stop the fire, does not want negotiations Said Zelenski to the press. Consequently, he asks his western partners to apply “stronger” sanctions against Moscow if his Russian counterpart refuses to meet him to hold peace conversations.
—It must be the set of Stronger sanctions “Zelenski said at a press conference, arguing that Putin’s absence would be” a clear sign that Russia “does not want and will not stop the war.”
The meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Türkiye will mean, if it is carried out, the first direct negotiation between both parties from the first months of the conflict initiated with the assault of Moscow in February 2022.
Putin proposed to negotiate directly and “Without prior conditions”, As opposed to the initiative of the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and France to press in favor of a full and unconditional truce of 30 days from May 12.
Russia replied that Rejects the ultimatums of kyiv and its European allies.