Zelenskyy is heading to Turkey for negotiations with Putin: “If Putin flies to Istanbul, we will fly as well.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a press conference ahead of his visit to Turkey and once again confirmed his full readiness for face-to-face negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I am ready to meet with Putin and have stated this several times. In 2019, we met face-to-face, so I clearly understand what I’m talking about and what results can be expected from negotiations with this person. I believe truth and justice are on Ukraine’s side. However, for the sake of our people and their interests, I believe we must take the first step. We want to achieve at least an initial agreement on starting the process of ending the war,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader also expressed doubt about Putin's willingness to conduct direct negotiations.

“I have repeatedly mentioned this to US President Donald Trump as well. I believe Putin does not want to end the war nor does he want to cease fire. I even think he fears direct negotiations with me,” said the Ukrainian president.

President Zelenskyy also announced that he agreed to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on May 15. Zelenskyy expressed hope to hold negotiations with Putin in Turkey.

“To prevent the Russian leadership from manipulating the situation regarding the venue, I want to clearly state right now: If Putin flies to Istanbul, Erdoğan and I are also ready to fly to Istanbul. If Putin is genuinely prepared to negotiate not just in the media but in real life, we will do everything possible at the leadership level to agree on a ceasefire. I must negotiate this specifically with him because the final decision on ending the war lies in his hands,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

The Ukrainian president once again emphasized that the right and obligation to conduct negotiations rest solely with him.

“Only I have the right to discuss Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and future. For this, I do not need to cancel the decree banning negotiations, because I have never forbidden myself anything. This is Putin’s own narrative. For me, the most important outcome is a complete and unconditional ceasefire. If Putin does not fly to Istanbul and continues to play games, this will indicate that Russia is not ready to end the war. In this case, the United States and the European Union must fulfill all their promises and implement the toughest sanctions package against Russia,” concluded Zelenskyy.

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