Zelensky seeks direct talks with Putin, says venues may include Turkey or Europe

Zelenskiy is pushing for direct talks with Putin to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said no agenda had been prepared for such a meeting.

“Now, this week there will be contacts with Turkey, contacts with the Gulf States and with European states which could host talks with the Russians,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

“From our side, things will be prepared to the maximum in order to end the war.”

Zelenskiy spoke as his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said he and Ukraine’s national security council chief were in Qatar to meet that country’s defence minister.

In his comments, Zelenskiy also said that moving ahead with talks depended on coordination with Ukraine’s partners, primarily the United States, in ensuring that sufficient pressure was exerted on Russia. This, he said, had been discussed on Monday in Kyiv with US envoy Keith Kellogg.

“Everything further depends strictly on the will of world leaders, most importantly the United States of America, to put pressure on Russia,” Zelenskiy said.

“Russia is only giving signals that it is going to continue to avoid real negotiations. This can only be changed by strong sanctions, strong tariffs – real pressure.”