Ukraine Conflict Talks Only If Putin Attends: Zelenskiy’s Condition
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made it clear that he will only engage in talks on the Ukraine conflict if Russian President Vladimir Putin also participates. This firm stance challenges Moscow to prove its sincerity in seeking peace. The exact four word keyphrase “Ukraine conflict talks only” appears early in this discussion.
US President Donald Trump has proposed attending a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, aiming to help end the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. However, Putin has not confirmed his attendance. Both Russia and Ukraine have publicly expressed willingness to work toward peace after Trump prioritized ending the war, yet no clear agreement has been reached.
Putin recently suggested direct talks with Ukraine following a Ukrainian offer for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Russia previously ignored. Trump urged Zelenskiy to accept this proposal, but Kyiv insists on certain conditions.
Conditions for Talks and Ceasefire Demands
“President Zelenskiy will not meet with any other Russian representative in Istanbul, except Putin,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak stated. Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, also emphasized that Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate depends on a ceasefire first. “Our position is very principled and very strong,” Yermak said during a trip to Copenhagen.
Moscow remains silent on Putin’s travel plans to Turkey. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov affirmed the commitment to a serious search for a long-term peaceful settlement but declined further comment.
Trump’s Role in Turkey Meeting
If Zelenskiy and Putin, who openly harbor mutual distrust, meet on Thursday, it would be their first face-to-face encounter since December 2019. Trump, heading to the Middle East this week, surprisingly offered to join the Istanbul talks. “I was thinking about actually flying over there. There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen, but we’ve got to get it done,” Trump said before his trip.
He added, “Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey,” highlighting the potential significance of the meeting. Following this, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed ceasefire strategies with counterparts from Ukraine, Europe, and the EU, while Russia’s Foreign Minister held talks with Turkey’s diplomatic representative.
Diverging Positions and Diplomatic Challenges
Last year, it was reported that Putin was open to ceasefire discussions with Trump but ruled out major territorial concessions and demanded Kyiv abandon NATO ambitions. Ukraine remains firm that talks require a ceasefire first, a position backed by European allies.
Kyiv seeks strong security guarantees in any peace deal and rejects Russian proposals limiting its military capacity. Territorial matters are to be addressed only after a ceasefire. Putin has referenced a 2022 draft agreement that would grant Ukraine permanent neutrality with international security guarantees from the UN Security Council’s permanent members.
Ukraine and its European partners have warned Russia to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday or face new sanctions. The Kremlin refused to respond to ultimatums. European leaders have requested the European Commission prepare additional “massive” sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and financial sectors if the ceasefire is rejected.
Current Territorial Control and Future Prospects
Russia currently controls nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea and large parts of eastern and southern regions. Konstantin Kosachev, a senior Russian official, expressed hope that talks could advance beyond the 2022 draft if Ukraine approaches negotiations without ultimatums and seeks common ground.
“If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward,” Kosachev said.
For ongoing updates on this evolving situation, visit Filipinokami.com.