Zelenskyy demands Putin’s presence at Istanbul talks as Russia remains silent on attendance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he will only attend peace talks in Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin also takes part, while the Kremlin remains noncommittal on who will represent Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that he will only attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also present.

“President Zelenskyy will not meet with any other Russian representative in Istanbul, except Putin,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters. The remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump offered to participate in the meeting, which has become a focal point for renewed international attempts to broker peace.

Putin, who recently suggested direct talks with Ukraine, has not yet confirmed his attendance. His proposal followed Kyiv's call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Trump then publicly urged Zelenskyy to accept talks, leading to Ukraine’s announcement that the president would go - but only if Putin does too.

Ukraine’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Zelenskyy's willingness to travel to Türkiye demonstrates Kyiv’s openness to dialogue, but emphasized that negotiations must be preceded by a ceasefire. “Our position is very principled and very strong,” Yermak said during a visit to Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated it is preparing for the Istanbul meeting but has not confirmed Putin’s participation. “As soon as the president sees fit, we will announce it,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, refraining from further comment on the matter.

As diplomatic efforts intensify, the focus now turns to whether Russia will meet Ukraine’s conditions and if the Istanbul talks can move forward with both leaders at the table.

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