Zelensky Conditions Peace Talks on Putin's Presence; Kremlin Silent
Live – Updated at 2:32 PM
Volodymyr Zelensky will only participate in discussions about Ukraine if Russia ’s Vladimir Putin Additionally, Ukraine's president’s chief of staff has issued a warning, posing a challenge. Kremlin to demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace.
President Zelensky is not scheduled to have a meeting. any other Russian representative "In Istanbul, except for Putin," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters.
The fresh ultimatum comes after US president Donald Trump proposed he might accompany Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin Turkey this week if the two leaders meet for peace talks there.
"I have numerous appointments, but I was considering traveling there instead. It might be possible, I suppose, provided I believe these things can occur; however, we must make it happen," Mr. Trump stated during the discussion. White House On Monday, Mr. Trump’s present itinerary includes trips to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar later this week.
But Moscow has not said regardless of whether the Turkish leader goes to Russia . “The Russian side continues to prepare for the negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Mr Zelensky’s demand . “We are not going to comment any more yet.”
Key Points
- Trump suggests he could join Putin and Zelensky in Turkey this week
- Zelensky will only meet with Putin himself, says senior Ukrainian official
- Fighting continues on frontline despite proposed ceasefire, says Ukrainian military
- How the Kremlin has responded to Zelensky's Putin challenge
Putin ‘prevaricating’ and ‘obfuscating’ on peace talks, says Lammy
14:32 , Andy GregoryVladimir Putin is “prevaricating” and “obfuscating” on peace talks with Ukraine, the UK’s foreign secretary David Lammy has said.
Speaking in the Commons, Tory MP and former foreign secretary James Cleverly asked Mr Lammy what steps the UK was taking to ensure that Donald Trump remains “committed to defending territorial integrity”, and to ensure the White House understands that allowing Mr Putin to “prosper” in Ukraine will embolden future invasions.
Mr Lammy replied: “[Mr Cleverly] will have seen that the prime minister was with President Zelensky and other European partners, he will have noted that they engaged with President Trump.
We embrace the wish for lasting peace, however, I believe a cessation of hostilities needs to occur before such discussions can take place.
And it’s Putin who is dodging the issue, it’s Putin who is being evasive, and we need to point this out based on our extensive experience in examining that specific person.
Russia is prepared for substantial discussions about Ukraine, according to Ryabkov.
14:18 , Andy GregoryThe Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia is prepared for substantial discussions regarding Ukraine; however, he expressed skepticism about whether Kiev is willing to negotiate.
It’s too early to make forecasts," Mr. Ryabkov said according to Russian state media outlets. "The appropriate questions ought to be directed at the backers of the Kiev administration and Kiev itself: Are they prepared for negotiations?
"We firmly believe that using our present method, the term that best describes the stance of these individuals is disagreement," stated the news agency TASS, quoting him.
Mr. Ryabkov stated that the realities "on the ground" concerning the conflict in Ukraine must be acknowledged, which includes recognizing the annexation of what Moscow refers to as the "new territories," according to reports from RIA.
After launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia then sought in September 2022 to illegally annexe four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzia and Kherson. Despite still only holding partial control over these regions, which are still subject to some of the war’s fiercest fighting, Moscow is pushing for Kyiv to concede them.
Germany's Merz warns Russia of potential new EU sanctions.
13:59 , Andy GregoryThe European Union is ready to impose tighter sanctions on Russia if progress on ending the war in Ukraine is not made this week, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.
Mr. Merz warned that a fresh set of sanctions was ready and informed journalists, "We await Putin's approval, and we concur that should there be no genuine advancement this week, we aim to collaborate at the EU level to enforce considerably stricter sanctions."
“We will be looking at other areas, such as the energy sector and also the financial market.”
EU foreign policy chief says Russia not truly interested in peace in Ukraine
13:41 , Andy GregoryEuropean Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that she does not believe Russia is truly interested in establishing peace in Ukraine.
“I don't think they are interested in peace. They are still bombing Ukraine. If they were interested in peace, they could stop right now,” Ms Kallas told reporters at a democracy summit in Copenhagen.
“Russia is clearly playing games, trying to buy time,” she said.
Kremlin declines to comment on whether Putin will attend Turkey talks
13:27 , Andy GregoryThe Kremlin has declined to comment on whether Vladimir Putin will travel to Turkey to attend peace talks with Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.
Mr Putin proposed on Sunday that direct talks with Ukraine should take place, and – after US president Donald Trump publicly told Mr Zelensky to accept, the Ukrainian president said that he would go but that Mr Putin should attend in person too.
“The Russian side continues to prepare for the negotiations,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the talks and Mr Zelensky’s demand that Mr Putin attend.
“We are not going to comment any more yet.”
When asked directly who would represent Russia at the talks, Mr Peskov said: “As soon as the president sees fit, we will announce it.”
Zelensky will only attend talks if Putin does, his aide says
13:00 , Arpan RaiUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated through his chief aide that he will participate in discussions regarding Ukraine solely if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present as well, effectively calling upon the Kremlin to demonstrate its sincerity towards achieving peace.
"President Zelensky has decided he will only meet with another Russian representative in Istanbul if it’s Putin," said Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak to Reuters earlier today.
The head of his office, Andriy Yermak, stated that President Zelensky’s visit to Turkey indicated Kyiv's readiness for discussions; however, he reiterated Ukraine's position that all negotiations can only occur following a cessation of hostilities.
"Our stance is both principled and firm," stated Mr. Yermak during his trip to Copenhagen.
Moscow hasn't mentioned whether the Russian president will go to Turkey to negotiate an end to the conflict with Ukraine.
Donald Trump, scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar this week, has surprisingly expressed his willingness to go to Istanbul for mediation in peace discussions involving Ukrainian and Russian delegates.
Putin rejects ceasefire but agrees to talks with Zelensky – what’s his strategy?
12:45 , Arpan RaiThe late-night press conference held by Vladimir Putin at 2 am on Sunday wasn’t merely an exhibition; it was part of his ongoing campaign to influence worldwide opinions about who bears the responsibility for the current situation. Russia’s war with Ukraine .
Russia was ready for peace talks in Turkey this Thursday, Putin said, with no conditions attached. That meant no ceasefire as a prelude to talks.
Volodymyr Zelensky took the wind out of Putin’s sails by replying that he was willing to break the Ukrainian taboo on negotiating with the Kremlin so long as it occupied its territory. He even said in his television address: “We are prepared to end the war.”
That was a big concession to the invader, but it was accompanied by a demand that Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire – also demanded by the four European leaders whom Zelensky had just met.
By declaring that he would be waiting for him in Istanbul, and daring Putin to meet him face to face for the first time since 2019, Zelensky was throwing down a challenge. It could yet blow up in either leader’s face.
Putin says ‘no’ to a ceasefire, but ‘yes’ to talks with Zelensky – what is he up to?
How the Kremlin has responded to Zelensky's Putin challenge
12:30 , Arpan RaiAlthough the Kremlin has effectively dismissed the idea of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire suggested by several European countries, it has maintained that it would be willing to engage in potential peace negotiations later in the week with no prerequisites.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged his Russian counterpart and stated he is ready to personally meet with Vladimir Putin in Turkey for negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.
Over the last 24 hours, the Kremlin hasn't provided a direct reply to President Zelensky's invite for an in-person meeting.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to disclose which representatives would go to Istanbul from the Russian side.
"In summary, we remain committed to earnestly seeking avenues for a lasting peaceful resolution. That is all," stated Mr. Peskov.
Should President Zelensky and President Putin, who openly express their disdain for one another, convene on Thursday, it would mark their initial direct encounter since December 2019.
Is Putin heading to discussions in Turkey? The Kremlin responds
12:15 , Arpan RaiRussia will announce who is attending the proposed peace talks in Turkey when president Vladimir Putin sees fit to, the Kremlin said on this morning.
It declined to comment on questions about whether or not Mr Putin would attend himself.
The Russian leader on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war, and, after US president Donald Trump publicly told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to accept, Mr Zelensky said he would but that Mr Putin should attend in person.
German defence minister pushes for fresh Russia sanctions
12:00 , Arpan RaiThe West must increase its sanctions on Russia as well as its military support to Ukraine after Russia did not agree to an immediate ceasefire on Monday, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said today.
"There needs to be further steps as regards sanctions as well as additional support for Ukraine since (Russian president Vladimir) Putin, as was to be expected, is behaving as usual in such a situation," Mr Pistorius told reporters in Berlin.
Everything we know about Russia and Ukraine peace talks in Turkey
11:51 , Arpan RaiUkraine and Russia are set to meet in Turkey For peace negotiations three years later Initial discussions within the nation fell apart. , with US president Donald Trump suggesting He was able to come in for the discussions. .
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky He has also revealed that he will be in Istanbul for the discussions, scheduled to begin on Thursday, and has urged the Russian leadership to participate. Vladimir Putin to meet him there.
Who will be attending?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been the most outspoken regarding his participation. Earlier this week, he expressed support via social media for former U.S. President Donald Trump's advocacy of direct discussions between himself and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Tom Watling reports:
All the information available regarding the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Turkey
Macron dismisses cocaine train allegations as 'fake news spread by France’s adversaries'
11:45 , Arpan RaiFrance has put an end to a bizarre conspiracy theory. by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Europe’s leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer , were doing cocaine together on a train into Ukraine .
The claims centre on a video in which French president Emmanuel Macron picks up a white tissue from a table and German chancellor Friedrich Merz retrieves a coffee stirrer. Sir Keir is seen smiling on the opposite side of the table.
The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote a lengthy diatribe on social media site Telegram over the weekend in which she claimed the video was evidence that the trio had spent the train journey doing cocaine and had forgotten to remove the drug paraphernalia. She claimed the tissue was a bag of cocaine and the stirrer was a spoon used to consume the drugs.
Macron rubbishes cocaine train claims: ‘Fake news spread by France’s enemies’
What has Trump said about gatecrashing Putin-Zelensky meeting in Turkey this week
11:30 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has suggested he could join Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week if the two leaders meet for peace talks there.
“You may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey … and I believe the two leaders are going to be there. I've got so many meetings, but 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,” Mr Trump said in the White House yesterday.
Mr Trump’s current schedule has him visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week.
The U.S. president also emphasized that he urged for the meeting between the two leaders to take place.
"I believe you're heading towards perhaps a productive meeting; there’s potential for it to be successful. The meeting was not initially planned to happen, but I insisted that it should occur," Mr. Trump stated.
Zelensky will join discussions solely if Putin agrees, according to his assistant.
11:21 , Arpan RaiUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated through his chief assistant that he will participate in discussions regarding Ukraine solely if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present as well. This statement puts pressure on the Kremlin to demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace.
"President Zelensky will not meet with any other Russian representative in Istanbul, except Putin," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters today.
The head of his staff, Andriy Yermak, stated that President Zelensky’s visit to Turkey indicated Kyiv's readiness for discussions. However, he reiterated Ukraine's position that all negotiations can only take place following a cessation of hostilities.
"Our stance is both principled and robust," Mr Yermak stated while visiting Copenhagen.
Moscow hasn't mentioned whether the Russian president will go to Turkey to negotiate an end to the conflict with Ukraine.
Donald Trump, scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar later this week, has surprisingly proposed an additional stopover in Istanbul for potential mediation in the peace discussions involving Ukrainian and Russian delegates.
A top Ukrainian official states that Zelensky will agree to meet with Putin alone.
11:10 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky will only meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for talks in Turkey on Thursday and not any other member of a Russian delegation, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said this morning.
Mr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet in Istanbul for a summit to end the war, accepting Mr Putin’s offer of direct talks.
The latest statement from Kyiv doubles down on Mr Zelensky’s offer to meet Mr Putin personally to gauge if Russia is indeed serious about ending the war in Ukraine.
Last night, US president Donald Trump offered to join the proposed Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
Russia launches its smallest overnight attack this year
10:55 , Arpan RaiRussia launched just 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in night-time attacks, the Ukrainian air force said this morning.
That makes it the smallest overnight aerial bombardment this year at a time when the warring countries are preparing for the possibility of peace talks in Turkey.
The Kremlin hasn't directly responded to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's challenge for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet him in person at the negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday.
Mr Zelensky will not be meeting with any Russian officials in Istanbul other than Mr Putin, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Mr Zelensky, said this morning on a YouTube show run by prominent Russian journalists in exile.
Lower-level talks would amount to simply "dragging out" any peace process, Mr Podolyak said.
European leaders have recently accused Mr Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he attempts to press his bigger army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
Russia effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire demanded by Ukraine and Western European leaders from Monday (yesterday), when it fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine.
Mr Putin instead offered direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday.
Zelensky wants Trump to attend discussions in Turkey
10:30 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his support for Donald Trump's attendance at the peace negotiations in Istanbul this week, stating that Ukraine has consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions and that he is prepared to attend the meeting in Turkey.
"President Erdogan has shown complete willingness to hold the meeting. It is crucial that President Trump provides full backing for this event, and we hope he can arrange time in his schedule to visit Türkiye," stated Mr Zelensky during his evening update.
He similarly pointed out the Kremlin’s silence regarding direct overtures from Kyiv for peace negotiations.
"Moscow has maintained silence throughout the entire day concerning the suggestion of a face-to-face meeting. This eerie quietness is quite peculiar. Regardless, Russia must ultimately bring an end to this conflict - and as quickly as possible would be ideal. Prolonging bloodshed serves no purpose," he stated.
Putin rejects ceasefire but agrees to talk with Zelensky – what’s his game plan?
10:15 , Arpan RaiThe late-night press conference held by Vladimir Putin on Sunday wasn’t merely an exhibition; it served as another move in his ongoing campaign to influence worldwide opinions about who bears actual responsibility for the situation at hand. Russia’s war with Ukraine .
Russia was prepared for negotiations in Turkey This Thursday, Putin stated unequivocally without any prerequisites. This implied that there would be no halt in fighting before negotiations commence.
Volodymyr Zelensky thwarted Putin’s advance by responding that he was willing to break the Ukrainian taboo on negotiating with the Kremlin so long as it occupied its territory. He even said in his television address: “We are prepared to end the war.”
That was a big concession to the invader, but it was accompanied by a demand that Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire – also demanded by the four European leaders whom Zelensky had just met.
Summit diplomacy can end wars, writes Mark Almond:
Putin says ‘no’ to a ceasefire, but ‘yes’ to talks with Zelensky – what is he up to?
Russia setting conditions to reject Zelensky’s invitation to meet Putin – ISW
10:00 , Arpan RaiOfficials in Russia appear to be setting conditions for Vladimir Putin to reject Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s invitation to meet in Istanbul for bilateral ceasefire negotiations, a US-based think tank said.
Mr Zelensky’s invitation is “pure spectacle” and “comedy”, according to Russian Federation Council speaker Konstantin Kosachev, further claiming that high-level meetings are not organised in “such a difficult situation”, The Institute for the Study of War said.
Furthermore, there are uncertainties regarding Mr. Putin’s potential visit to Istanbul for a meeting with Mr. Zelensky, as stated by Alexei Chepa, the deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
As reported up until now, Kremlin-level officials haven't officially replied to Zelensky's invite. However, comments from less senior Russian government members suggest that Putin probably won’t go to Istanbul for talks with Zelensky," according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukrainian military reports ongoing combat at the front line even after the suggested truce.
09:45 , Arpan RaiAs stated by Ukraine’s armed forces headquarters, up until 10 pm (1900 GMT) last night, there were 133 confrontations with Russian troops along the front line since the truce was supposed to begin at midnight.
Ukraine's leading military official, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that intense combat continued to dominate the Donetsk area, which remains central to the conflict in the east, along with Russia’s western Kursk region. This situation persisted nine months following Kyiv's troops' border offensive.
Viktor Trehubov, a representative from Ukraine's eastern front military, stated that the combat remained as intense as though there had been no ceasefire agreement.
How the Kremlin Has Reacted to Zelensky’s Challenge to Putin
09:30 , Arpan RaiAlthough the Kremlin has dismissed the idea of an unconditional 30-day cease-fire suggested by several European countries, it has maintained that it would be willing to engage in potential peace negotiations later in the week with no prerequisites.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky challenged his Russian counterpart and stated he is ready to personally meet with Vladimir Putin in Turkey to resolve the conflict.
In the past 24 hours, there has been no direct response from the Kremlin to the invitation made by Mr Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting.
But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to say who might travel to Istanbul from the Russian side.
"Overall, we're determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all," Mr Peskov said.
If Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, who make no secret of their contempt for each other, were to meet on Thursday it would be their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.
Zelensky seeks Trump's presence at Turkey talks
09:15 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has backed Donald Trump’s presence at peace talks in Istanbul this week, saying Ukraine has “always supported diplomacy” and that he is “ready to come to Türkiye”.
“President Erdogan has expressed full readiness to host the meeting. It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Türkiye,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
He additionally pointed out the Kremlin’s silence regarding direct proposals from Kyiv for peace negotiations.
"Moscow has been completely quiet throughout the day concerning the suggestion of a face-to-face meeting. This eerie silence is quite peculiar. Regardless, Russia must bring an end to this conflict - as quickly as possible would be ideal. Prolonging bloodshed serves no purpose," he stated.
A top Ukrainian official states that Zelensky will agree to meet with Putin personally.
08:45 , Arpan RaiPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he will meet with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, for discussions in Turkey on Thursday but does not plan to engage with any other members of the Russian delegation, according to a statement from a Ukrainian presidential advisor earlier today.
President Zelensky has stated his willingness to participate in a summit in Istanbul aimed at concluding the conflict, agreeing to President Putin’s proposal for face-to-face negotiations.
The most recent declaration from Kyiv reinforces President Zelensky’s proposal to have a direct meeting with Mr. Putin to assess whether Russia is genuinely committed to terminating the conflict in Ukraine.
Yesterday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to participate in the suggested Ukraine-Russian peace negotiations.
While Russia has not clarified if it plans to attend the talks and at what level, officials from the Kremlin have signalled Mr Putin will not join the talks.
According to Russian Federation Council speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Mr. Zelensky’s invitation is "nothing more than pure spectacle" and "a comedy." He also asserted that high-level meetings do not occur under "such challenging circumstances," as stated by The Institute for the Study of War.
EU will quit Russian energy even if Ukraine peace reached, says energy chief
08:22 , Arpan RaiThe European Union does not intend to revive its imports of Russian energy after a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, the bloc's Energy Commissioner said this morning.
"The European Union is very clear, we do not wish energy from Russia in the future. We don't wish it now, and we will not wish it after a peace," Dan Jorgensen told reporters at a meeting of EU ministers in Warsaw.
The EU intends to halt imports of Russian natural gas by the end of 2027 to deprive Russia of revenue that helps fuel his war on Ukraine, the bloc’s executive branch said last week.
“Putin has shown that he doesn’t mind weaponising gas,” Mr Jorgensen has said as he outlined the plan last week.
“We do not want to fill up his war chest and support his war economy because who knows which countries will be next.”
The EU states that it has reduced its gas imports from Russia by more than half, dropping from 45 percent to 19 percent compared to pre-war levels, and similarly decreased oil imports from 27 percent to just 3 percent. Nevertheless, it remains Russia’s largest buyer of natural gas, thanks to operational pipelines spanning the Black Sea, Belarus, and Turkey, as reported by the Energy and Clean Air think tank.
Turkish and Russian envoys meet to talk about peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
08:10 , Arpan RaiRussia states that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia and his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu discussed Vladimir Putin’s suggestion for direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations to be held later this week in Turkey.
The leaders of the two departments addressed topics connected to Russian Federation President V.V. Putin’s proposal for initiating direct discussions regarding a resolution in Ukraine on May 15th in Istanbul, as stated by the ministry.
A Turkish diplomatic source earlier said the two ministers had spoken, but gave no further details.
Mr. Putin put forth this suggestion over the weekend following meetings with European leaders in Kyiv, where they called for Russia to consent to a 30-day truce in its conflict with Ukraine by Monday; otherwise, new sanctions would be imposed.
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, stated that he anticipated both parties would achieve a compromise within the next few days which could potentially resolve the impasse regarding whether negotiations could commence without an established ceasefire.
Ukrainians explain why Putin doesn't want peace talks: 'Will mean he has lost'
07:53 , Arpan RaiIn Kyiv, citizens showed a blend of optimism and dejection regarding the recent peace initiatives.
Russian president Vladimir Putin doesn't want a truce to halt the war, because "it will mean that he has lost," Antonina Metko, 43, told AP.
"That is why they are postponing it. And everything will continue in the same way. Unfortunately," she said.
Ukraine, along with European allies, has demanded that Russia accept a ceasefire starting Monday [yesterday] before holding peace talks. Moscow effectively rejected that proposal and instead called for direct negotiations in Istanbul.
Vladyslav Nehrybetskyi, 72, was more upbeat, saying that "the seeds" of a peace agreement are being sown, even though "a difficult process" lies ahead.
"So let's hope."
Ukraine's government has tried to keep up the momentum for a peace deal started by the Trump administration.
How the Kremlin has responded to Zelensky's Putin challenge
07:38 , Arpan RaiWhile the Kremlin has effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by the European nations, it has reiterated it would take part in possible peace talks later this week without preconditions.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky threw down the gauntlet to his Russian counterpart and said he is willing to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey “personally” to settle the war.
In the past 24 hours, there has been no direct response from the Kremlin to the invitation made by Mr Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to specify which representatives would go to Istanbul from the Russian side.
"In summary, we remain committed to earnestly seeking avenues for a lasting peaceful resolution. That is all," stated Mr. Peskov.
Should Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin, who openly express their disdain for one another, convene on Thursday, it would mark their initial direct encounter since December 2019.
Trump suggests he could join Putin and Zelensky in Turkey this week
07:37 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has indicated he might accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey later this week if these leaders convene for peace discussions in Istanbul.
"You might achieve positive outcomes from the Thursday meeting in Turkey… and I trust both leaders will attend. Despite my numerous engagements, I am considering traveling there. It could potentially happen if I believe significant progress can be made, but we must ensure it gets accomplished," President Trump stated at the White House yesterday.
President Trump’s present itinerary includes trips to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar later this week.
The U.S. president also emphasized that he had urged for the meeting between the two leaders to occur.
"I believe you might end up having a productive meeting; there’s potential for it to be successful. The meeting was not initially scheduled to happen, but I insisted that it should occur," Mr. Trump stated.
Zelensky seeks Trump's presence at Turkey talks
07:12 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has backed Donald Trump’s presence at peace talks in Istanbul this week, saying Ukraine has “always supported diplomacy” and that he is “ready to come to Türkiye”.
“President Erdogan has expressed full readiness to host the meeting. It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come to Türkiye,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly address.
He also called out silence from the Kremlin on direct offers from Kyiv for peace talks.
“Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence. One way or another, Russia will have to end this war – and the sooner, the better. There is no sense in continuing the killing,” he said.
Ukraine says it destroyed all 10 drones that Russia launched overnight
06:50 , Arpan RaiUkraine's air defence units destroyed all 10 drones that Russia launched overnight, Ukraine's air force said this morning.
This is the lowest number of drones that Russia has launched in an overnight attack in at least several weeks, according to Reuters' calculations.
Warsaw fire accusations baseless, Kremlin claims
06:44 , Arpan RaiThe Kremlin has responded to Poland's assertion that Russia was responsible for the blaze that devastated a mall in Warsaw during the previous year.
The Polish Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, announced yesterday that he had instructed for the shutdown of Russia's consulate in the southern city of Krakow following the fire incident.
"The Russian consulate must depart. If such attacks persist, we will implement additional measures," stated Mr. Sikorski.
During an interview with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as baseless and attributed them to a prevailing anti-Russian attitude.
He further mentioned that closing the consulate in Warsaw would harm the diplomatic ties between Russia and Poland, describing their relationship as already being "in a deplorable condition," according to Mr. Peskov.
Will Zelensky empty-chair Putin in Turkey after calling his bluff on peace talks?
06:36 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has thrown down the gauntlet – and is calling Vladimir Putin’s bluff – by announcing he will indeed be in Turkey on Thursday for direct talks on a ceasefire.
Over the weekend, Putin effectively rejected the Ukrainian president’s call for 30-day unconditional truce, which is backed by Sir Keir Starmer, the leaders of France, Germany and Poland ( who were all in Ukraine) as well as members of the 31-country “coalition of the willing”.
The month-long break from fighting was designed, Zelensky said, as the “foundation for diplomacy” to allow talks for a longer deal. It was supposed to be a continuation of a three-day temporary truce that Putin had initially called, but which expired on Sunday.
Never one to be cajoled, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, Launching 108 attack drones from six different angles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Rather than halting hostilities, Putin requested direct peace negotiations to take place on May 15 in Istanbul. These talks were to be facilitated by his somewhat ambivalent ally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
We can infer that Putin anticipated his proposal of disruption would be dismissed by Zelensky.
Chief international correspondent Bel Trew examines how the week could unfold:
Ukrainian military reports ongoing combat at the front line even after a suggested truce.
06:23 , Arpan RaiAs stated by Ukraine’s armed forces headquarters, up until 10 pm (1900 GMT) yesterday, there were 133 confrontations with Russian troops along the front line after the truce was supposed to start at midnight.
The chief military official from Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reportedly told President Volodymyr Zelensky that intense combat continued to dominate the Donetsk area, which remains central to operations on the eastern battlefield, along with Russia’s westward positioned Kursk territory. This conflict has persisted for nine months since Ukrainian troops initiated their border-crossing offensive.
Viktor Trehubov, a representative from Ukraine's eastern frontline military, stated that the combat continued with the same level of intensity as if there had been no ceasefire agreement.
The Institute for the Study of War reports that Ukrainian troops have made advances near Toretsk in Ukraine, whereas Russian forces have progressed towards Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka.
Russia setting conditions to reject Zelensky’s invitation to meet Putin – ISW
05:59 , Arpan RaiOfficials in Russia appear to be setting conditions for Vladimir Putin to reject Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s invitation to meet in Istanbul for bilateral ceasefire negotiations, a US-based think tank said.
Mr Zelensky’s invitation is “pure spectacle” and “comedy”, according to Russian Federation Council speaker Konstantin Kosachev, further claiming that high-level meetings are not organised in “such a difficult situation”, The Institute for the Study of War said.
Additionally, doubts have been expressed over whether Mr Putin will travel to Istanbul to meet with Mr Zelensky by Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs deputy chairperson Alexei Chepa.
“Kremlin-level officials have not formally responded to Zelensky's invitation as of this report, although statements from lower-level Russian officials indicate that Putin will likely not travel to Istanbul and meet with Zelensky,” the ISW said.
How the Kremlin has responded to Zelensky's Putin challenge
05:39 , Arpan RaiWhile the Kremlin has effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by the European nations, it has reiterated it would take part in possible peace talks later this week without preconditions.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky threw down the gauntlet to his Russian counterpart and said he is willing to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey “personally” to settle the war.
In the past 24 hours, there has been no direct response from the Kremlin to the invitation made by Mr Zelensky for a face-to-face meeting.
But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to say who might travel to Istanbul from the Russian side.
"Overall, we're determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all," Mr Peskov said.
If Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, who make no secret of their contempt for each other, were to meet on Thursday it would be their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.
Macron dismisses cocaine train allegations as 'fake news spread by France's adversaries'
05:15 , Arpan RaiFrance has put an end to a wild conspiracy theory. by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Europe’s leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer , were using cocaine together on a train into Ukraine .
The allegations revolve around a video featuring French President Emmanuel Macron grasps a white tissue from the table and the German chancellor Friedrich Merz retrieves a coffee stirrer. Sir Keir is seen smiling on the opposite side of the table.
The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote a lengthy diatribe on social media site Telegram over the weekend in which she claimed the video was evidence that the trio had spent the train journey doing cocaine and had forgotten to remove the drug paraphernalia. She claimed the tissue was a bag of cocaine and the stirrer was a spoon used to consume the drugs.
Macron rubbishes cocaine train claims: ‘Fake news spread by France’s enemies’
Putin says ‘no’ to a ceasefire, but ‘yes’ to talks with Zelensky – what is he up to?
04:51 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin’s 2am press conference on Sunday was not just theatre, it was his latest salvo in the psychological battle to shape global perceptions of who is truly to blame for Russia’s war with Ukraine .
Russia was ready for peace talks in Turkey this Thursday, Putin said, with no conditions attached. That meant no ceasefire as a prelude to talks.
Volodymyr Zelensky thwarted Putin’s advances by responding that he was eager to challenge the Ukrainian taboo During negotiations with the Kremlin as long as it held onto its territory, he stated in a televised speech, "We are ready to bring the conflict to an end."
That was a significant compromise for the invader, but it also came with the condition that Putin consent to a 30-day ceasefire — which was also requested by the four European leaders he had recently met with.
By stating that he would await him in Istanbul and inviting Putin to have their first meeting since 2019, Zelensky issued a bold challenge. This move has the potential to backfire spectacularly on one of them.
Summit diplomacy has the potential to bring an end to conflicts, writes Mark Almond:
Putin rejects ceasefire but agrees to talk with Zelensky – what’s his strategy?
Rubio talks about Ukraine cease-fire with his European colleagues
04:30 , Arpan RaiUS secretary of state Marco Rubio discussed the "way forward for a ceasefire" in Ukraine with his European counterparts, including the foreign ministers of Britain and France and the EU's foreign policy chief, the State Department said last night.
According to the summary of the conversation, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his counterparts from Germany and Poland were also part of the discussion.
This came shortly after Donald Trump offered to join Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin if they meet in Turkey this week for direct peace talks.
Ukraine and its European allies have been seeking to put pressure on Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which was supposed to have started yesterday.
Russia slams Europe ceasefire ultimatum as 'unacceptable'
04:16 , Arpan RaiThe European proposal for a 30-day ceasefire is an “unacceptable” ultimatum, the Kremlin said.
Europe, with the backing of US president Donald Trump, proposed a 30-day ceasefire beginning yesterday.
The European countries, including the UK, threatened Vladimir Putin with further sanctions if he failed to agree.
“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You can't use such language with Russia," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Ukraine and its European allies have been seeking to put pressure on Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday, with the leaders of four major European powers travelling to Kyiv on Saturday to show unity with Mr Zelensky.
Yesterday morning, the German authorities stated that Europe was set to begin preparations for additional sanctions against Russia unless the Kremlin took action to adhere to the ceasefire by the close of the day.
Trump suggests he could join Putin and Zelensky in Turkey this week
04:01 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has indicated he might accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey later this week if these leaders convene for peace discussions there.
"You might achieve positive outcomes from the Thursday meeting in Turkey… and I assume both leaders will attend. My schedule is packed with numerous engagements, yet I'm considering traveling there. It could become possible if I believe significant progress can be made; however, we must ensure it gets accomplished," stated Mr. Trump at the White House yesterday.
President Trump’s present itinerary includes trips to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar later this week.
The U.S. president also emphasized that he had pushed for the meeting between the two leaders to occur.
"I believe you're heading towards possibly having a productive meeting; there’s potential for it to be successful. The meeting was not initially scheduled to happen, but I pushed for it to occur," Mr. Trump stated.
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