Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul.
The meeting comes after Putin suggested direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the three-year war.
Zelensky initially said Ukraine would only talk after Russia agreed to a ceasefire.
However, Donald Trump, the former US President, called on Ukraine to accept Putin’s offer immediately.
Trump said that at least then, Ukraine and Russia can determine if an agreement is possible.
If not, European and US leaders will know where things stand and can act accordingly.
Zelensky has now agreed to meet Putin in Istanbul on Thursday.
He hopes Russia will agree to a ceasefire before the talks.
“Ukraine is waiting for a full and lasting ceasefire to start tomorrow, May 12th, as a basis for negotiations,”
Zelensky said.
The conflict has been ongoing for over three years, and Zelensky believes it’s time to end the bloodshed.
Background on the Conflict
The war between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant human suffering and economic losses.
Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities, and the international community has been working to broker a peace deal.
The proposed meeting in Istanbul is seen as a crucial step towards ending the conflict.
International Reactions
The international community has welcomed Zelensky’s willingness to meet Putin.
However, some have expressed concerns that Russia may not be genuinely committed to a ceasefire.
The US and European leaders are likely to be watching the situation closely to see how events unfold.
The source of this information is bbc.