KYIV — Ukraine and its European allies want Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire before starting peace talks. Vladimir Putin responded by hammering Ukraine with more than 100 killer drones.
The Russian leader insists he wants talks before a ceasefire, and he’s being backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Now Moscow and Kyiv are playing chicken over talks in Turkey, the goal being to ensure the other side annoys Trump first.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dared Putin to meet in person in Istanbul.
“I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X on Sunday.
Russia’s immediate response was an overnight wave of drones — most of which were shot down by Ukrainian forces — as well as continued attacks on Ukrainian positions along the frontlines. Russian officials reported a Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Kursk region.
By saying he’ll go to Istanbul, Zelenskyy is trying to outplay Putin, Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign relations committee, told POLITICO.
“The Ukrainian president turned the tables. Because now Putin cannot help but go personally, because then Trump and everyone will see that Putin does not want negotiations,” Merezhko said.
If Putin stays away, that could sway the mercurial Trump to back Ukraine more strongly, said Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta Center for Political Research.
“If Putin refuses, it means he does not want negotiations, it means he may look like a loser in Trump’s eyes. Although how Trump perceives all this is still a big question,” Fesenko said.
Trump made that warning in his Truth Social post, saying there needs to be an effort to reach a deal. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly,” Trump wrote.
Both sides are briefing furiously against each other.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, on Monday accused Ukraine of breaking past ceasefires and warned against a “simplistic approach” to talks.
Moscow also says that Kyiv has to first cancel its 2022 ban on negotiations with the Russian leadership.
However, a senior Ukrainian official told POLITICO that the measure was aimed at blocking Ukrainian politicians from freelancing talks with Russia, and does not prevent direct negotiations with Putin.
“At that time, it was stated that it was impossible to talk to Putin; at this moment, it is possible to talk to Putin,” the official said, speaking on condition of being granted anonymity. “The president decides when and with who he should be speaking at the right time. No word about ban.”
It is still not clear if Zelenskyy will go to Turkey on Thursday and wait there for Putin.
“We will not publicly disclose our plans, as we’re waiting for the Russians to react,” the official said.
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