Zelenskyy’s statements followed US President Donald Trump’s insistence that Ukraine should agree to Russia’s recent proposal for direct discussions in Turkey on Thursday. Initially, Ukraine and its European partners had called for Russia to agree to an immediate 30-day ceasefire prior to negotiations, but Moscow declined and proposed direct talks instead.
It was not clear if Zelenskyy was conditioning his presence in Turkey on the Monday ceasefire holding.
Trump emphasized the potential lives that could be saved by ending the “never-ending ‘bloodbath'” and assured his commitment to facilitating the process. He expressed the USA’s focus on Reconstruction and Trade, anticipating significant developments in the upcoming week.
In a separate message on Sunday, Trump reiterated his stance that Ukraine should consider accepting Russia’s proposal for a meeting in Turkey to discuss bringing an end to the ongoing conflict. However, he also expressed doubts about Ukraine’s willingness to reach an agreement with Putin.
Putin spoke Sunday to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed readiness to host the talks, the Kremlin said.
According to the Kremlin’s readout of the phone call, Erdogan “fully supported the Russian proposal, emphasising his readiness to provide” a platform for the talks in Istanbul, as well as “all possible assistance in organizing and holding the negotiations aimed at achieving sustainable peace.”
Erdogan also spoke to Macron on Sunday, according to a statement from the Turkish presidential communications office, and said that a “historic turning point” had been reached in efforts to end the war.
Ukraine holds first football tournament for war-wounded amputees
Meanwhile, Russia resumed mass drone attacks in Ukraine early on Sunday, after its self-declared three-day pause expired.
Russia launched 108 attack drones and simulator drones from six different directions, Ukraine’s air force said. It said 60 drones were shot down and another 41 simulator drones failed to reach targets due to Ukrainian countermeasures.
The Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday accused Ukraine of “violating” Moscow’s three-day ceasefire more than 14,000 times.
Ukraine, which did not agree to the May 8-10 ceasefire, has also accused Russia of violating its own truce, with the Ukrainian foreign minister calling it a farce.
