Zelensky Wants Direct Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey

Zelensky Wants Direct Peace Talks with Putin in Turkey

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct talks in Ankara, Turkey, on May 15, 2025.
He said if Putin doesn’t come, it will show that Russia is not serious about ending the war.

What Is the Goal?

Zelensky wants a 30-day ceasefire (a pause in fighting) so that both sides can try to talk about peace.
Many countries like the USA, Germany, France, Brazil, and China support this idea.

But Russia rejected the ceasefire.
Putin hasn’t confirmed if he will attend the meeting.
His team says they’ll decide if and when he should go.

What Are Other Countries Saying?

• Donald Trump (former US President) said he might join the talks if it helps.

• He warned that if peace talks fail, the US may add more sanctions (penalties) on Russia.

• European leaders, like Germany’s Chancellor, said they will also punish Russia more if the talks don’t work.

What Does Zelensky Want?

Zelensky said he wants to speak only to Putin — not to any other Russian official — because only Putin can stop the war.

So far, Russia hasn’t said yes or no about the meeting.

Why Is This Important?

If this meeting happens, it will be the first time since 2019 that both leaders talk face-to-face.
This could be a big step toward peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.