Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was ready to cancel peace talks in Istanbul if Russian leader Vladimir Putin failed to attend. However, Western partners persuaded the Ukrainian President not to rule out the negotiations,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he does not believe that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would come to Istanbul for direct negotiations with him, although he does not completely rule out the possibility.

Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv he will be in Ankara on Thursday to conduct the negotiations. He plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two will wait for Putin to arrive, he said. Zelenskyy said if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there.