Kyiv:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he wanted to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire face-to-face with Vladimir Putin at this week’s talks in Istanbul because only the Russian leader could enact such a pause.
Accusing Putin of being “scared” of meeting him, Zelensky said he expected “strong sanctions” from the United States and European Union if the talks did not take place, adding a failed meeting would show that Russia was not ready for diplomacy.
Zelensky told reporters that because “absolutely everything in Russia” depends on Putin, the only way to secure a ceasefire and an end to the war was through direct talks with him.
“If he takes the step to say he is ready for a ceasefire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war,” he said.
“I’m not even mentioning that he is scared of direct talks with me,” Zelensky said, adding he would first meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara for talks and would head to Istanbul if Putin arrived there.
Zelensky said Ukraine had invited U.S. President Donald Trump to Thursday’s meeting but had yet to confirm his attendance. Trump offered on Monday to join the prospective talks while he was travelling in the region.
The Ukrainian leader also said China had signalled it supported a 30-day ceasefire, which Zelensky says is necessary before any peace talks can happen.