Zelenskyy ready to meet with Putin: Ukraine's FM speaks with Turkish counterpart
Andrii Sybiha, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, and Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister of Türkiye (t.me/Ukraine_MFA)
Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. The two discussed, among other things, potential Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul, according to a statement by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sybiha noted that he thanked Fidan for the invitation to Türkiye. The Ukrainian minister informed his counterpart about the latest developments on the battlefield and in diplomacy.
According to the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the "epicenter of global diplomacy" is currently in Türkiye, which is playing an active mediating role.
"I reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to peace, our immediate and unconditional readiness for a full and lasting ceasefire, as well as our proposal for a direct meeting at the highest level between Ukraine and Russia. Putin must stop rejecting the ceasefire and avoiding meetings with President Zelenskyy," Sybiha added.
He clarified that he discussed with the Turkish Foreign Minister ways to advance a meaningful peace process.
"I am grateful to my counterpart for his support and valuable advice," the Ukrainian minister emphasized.
Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
As a reminder, on May 11, Russia proposed holding negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, May 15.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the talks must be held at the highest level — directly between him and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Russia is still keeping the composition of its delegation "under wraps," so it remains unclear whether Putin will travel to Istanbul.
