Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed hope that the renewed flurry of international diplomacy aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict will lead former U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Russian President Vladimir Putin as the principal impediment to achieving peace.
“President Trump needs to understand that Putin is not being truthful,” Zelenskyy told a select group of journalists, including representatives from The Guardian, during a closed-door briefing in Kyiv. “It is important that we demonstrate clearly that we are not the ones delaying peace.”
Zelenskyy confirmed plans to travel to Turkey on Thursday for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan, regardless of whether Putin agrees to participate. “If Putin fails to attend and instead continues to play games, it will be a clear signal that he has no intention of ending the war,” he stated.
The comments follow an unexpected Kremlin address in which Putin proposed renewed direct negotiations in Istanbul. Zelenskyy promptly responded, affirming his readiness to meet in Turkey—potentially opening the door to a high-stakes trilateral summit, with Trump suggesting he might join the talks during his current visit to Saudi Arabia.
“I believe Trump’s presence in Turkey could pressure Putin to also attend,” Zelenskyy said. “The United States can provide meaningful guarantees, and President Trump could play a significant role in this process.”
Trump’s envoy, General Keith Kellogg, echoed the potential of a trilateral engagement. Speaking to Fox News, Kellogg said, “This could be a very consequential meeting. We hope President Putin will join, and that President Trump will be there as well.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are also expected to travel to Turkey.
However, the Kremlin has offered no clear indication that Putin will participate directly. Russian officials have signaled that a lower-level delegation will attend in his place. “Our team will be in Istanbul and will await the Ukrainian side,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov added that Moscow intends to raise its longstanding demands, including the so-called “denazification” of Ukraine and recognition of annexed territories—positions that underscore the wide gulf between the two sides.
Zelenskyy emphasized that without a leader-level ceasefire agreement, any lower-tier negotiations would lack substance. “I would meet Putin not because we will agree on everything—we won’t—but to make progress on a ceasefire,” he said. “Only then can technical delegations begin the hard work of detailed negotiations.”
Referencing previous efforts in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. intermediaries failed to secure lasting peace, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of high-level engagement. “Without direct signals from leadership, lower-level talks cannot succeed.”
While he did not dismiss the possibility of sending a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul, Zelenskyy remained cautious. “Perhaps the Americans—or someone else—will attempt to revive the format. I can’t say for certain,” he remarked.
This latest diplomatic push comes on the heels of a symbolic visit to Kyiv by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Poland—timed just after Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations marking 80 years since the end of World War II. After a phone call with Trump, the European leaders issued an ultimatum to Putin: agree to a 30-day ceasefire by Monday or face a new round of sanctions. Putin rejected the proposal, opting instead to suggest talks in Istanbul without any ceasefire commitment.
In the event that the Turkish talks fail to yield results, attention will shift to Washington’s next steps. Zelenskyy indicated he believes the U.S. is prepared to act. “President Trump is not opposed to sanctions, and there is strong political momentum in Congress,” he said. While declining to reveal specifics, Zelenskyy confirmed that confidential consultations with European allies on potential U.S. sanctions are imminent.
Zelenskyy’s approach reflects a careful balancing act, particularly in his recent efforts to rebuild relations with the Trump administration following a strained February meeting at the White House. That effort appears to be bearing fruit: the two leaders reportedly held a productive exchange during the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome last month.
When asked what had prompted the thaw with Trump, Zelenskyy demurred. “I have my thoughts, but I can’t share them publicly,” he said.
Zelenskyy also acknowledged increasingly close coordination with European partners, particularly with French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he praised as a creative and results-oriented leader. “He’s a risk-taker, and risk-takers are focused on outcomes.”
Following his visit to Turkey, Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend a gathering of European leaders in Albania on Friday, and may then travel to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV—a visit that, while unconfirmed, he suggested could occur on Sunday.
“We don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” Zelenskyy said. “That is the nature of this moment.”
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