Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy never proposed a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.It was the Kremlin leader who suggested direct talks in Istanbul to avoid a ceasefire, stated Zelenskyy during a press conference.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin must demonstrate leadership by meeting him in person for talks. He said Putin’s behaviour shows a lack of respect not only for Ukraine,

Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, both countries said Thursday, but hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

Ukraine has minimized its participation in negotiations with the Russian side due to the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The delegation will arrive in Istanbul but without high-ranking officials.

Amid whirlwind diplomacy this week over the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine, it seemed like Volodymyr Zelenskyy had gotten the better of his adversary. Now Vladimir Putin has found what he presumably sees as the best way out of a tight spot by sending a lower-level delegation to peace talks.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he will urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not show up for the negotiations, even though he initiated them himself. Ukraine will not run around the world looking for him, according to a press conference by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A Russian politician has condemned Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent promise to wait for Vladimir Putin for peace talks in Istanbul. After his Russian counterpart offered to “resume negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war in Turkey last week,