Saturday, March 29, 2025
Putin-Zelenskyy Turkey talks are still unconfirmed, as the Kremlin stays silent for a third straight day. Global leaders are pushing hard for direct peace negotiations, but Moscow hasn’t revealed whether President Vladimir Putin will join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would only name Russia’s delegates after receiving instructions from the president. “No such instructions have been given yet,” he told reporters.
The delay follows Putin’s surprise call for direct talks during a late-night address. In response, Zelenskyy challenged him to meet face-to-face in Turkey.
Zelenskyy confirmed that he will travel to Ankara on Thursday to meet Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He added that he’s ready to fly to Istanbul at any moment if Putin appears.
“If Putin avoids the talks, it proves he doesn’t want to end the war,” Zelenskyy told reporters.
Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky hinted that a prisoner exchange could be discussed. He said Russia’s delegation would be announced by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept the offer of talks. Trump also said he might personally join the Istanbul meeting if Putin attends. He’s currently touring the Middle East and may adjust his route to help “save lives.”
While he is scheduled to be in the UAE on Thursday, Trump noted that visiting Turkey was still possible. He has assigned Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior aides Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to represent the U.S. at the talks.
China and Brazil issued a joint statement urging direct negotiations as the only way to end the war. Speaking from Beijing, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would encourage Putin to attend.
“I’ll tell him, ‘Hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit,’” Lula said. He also confirmed plans to visit Moscow soon.
Ukraine plans to propose a 30-day ceasefire as a base for further talks. However, Russia has often rejected such proposals. Moscow claims that extended truces let Ukraine rearm while Russian forces are advancing.
Russian officials have signaled they’ll return to earlier demands from the failed 2022 talks in Turkey. If Istanbul negotiations fail again, European leaders have warned they will increase pressure on Moscow.
Still, many now ask: can they get Trump to help turn that pressure into action?
