President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Ukraine to enter immediate peace negotiations with Russia, backing a proposal by President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks in Turkey on Thursday — even as Kyiv insists on a cease-fire first.
“Ukraine should agree to this IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible… HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
The former president emphasized the urgency of the meeting, suggesting that even if talks fail, Western allies would at least understand the state of play and act accordingly.
Putin’s proposal comes more than three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, launching a war that has claimed thousands of lives and devastated cities across the country. Despite ongoing efforts by the United States and European leaders to broker peace, negotiations have repeatedly stalled.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Trump’s remarks by reiterating his willingness to engage with Moscow, but made clear that a full cease-fire must precede any talks.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings,” Zelensky said in a statement. He added that he would personally attend the proposed summit in Turkey and personally called on Russia not to “look for excuses.”
Zelensky’s position received backing from Western allies, including Trump’s special envoy to Kyiv, Keith Kellogg, who posted on X (formerly Twitter): “An unconditional ceasefire first and, during it, move into comprehensive peace discussions. Not the other way round.”
Putin’s proposal came just one day after Trump and European leaders jointly threatened Russia with “massive sanctions” if it did not agree to a 30-day truce by Monday. Zelensky confirmed that the cease-fire must be “full and unconditional,” or Moscow would face new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors.
As the proposed date for talks approaches, tensions remain high over the conditions required to launch meaningful peace negotiations.
