Zelensky asks Putin summit
- Volodymyr Zelensky publicly called for a summit with Vladimir Putin to try to kick-start peace talks. - The appeal came after U.S.-mediated direct talks earlier this year produced no breakthrough. - Observers describe the request as diplomatic positioning rather than evidence of an agreed ceasefire. (independent.co.uk)
Ukraine said on April 22 that it wants a face-to-face meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, and has asked Turkey to host it. (apnews.com) Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Kyiv had approached Turkey and “some other capitals,” and said Ukraine would accept any venue except Russia or Belarus. Reuters reported the comments were made Tuesday and cleared for release Wednesday. (usnews.com) The push follows three rounds of U.S.-mediated talks this year, including meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva on February 17-18, that did not produce a broader ceasefire. CBS reported the two sides did manage a temporary pause in attacks on energy infrastructure and a prisoner exchange after earlier sessions. (cbsnews.com) Zelensky has been publicly testing the idea of direct contact for months. On January 30, he invited Putin to Kyiv after U.S.-mediated discussions in Abu Dhabi, and on April 9 he said there was only a small window for diplomacy. (aljazeera.com) (nytimes.com) Putin also signaled in April 2025 that he was open to bilateral ceasefire talks, but the Kremlin kept tying any meeting to Ukrainian concessions and Russia’s war demands. NBC reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv had to take steps to “clear the way” for talks. (nbcnews.com) Turkey is an obvious venue because it has kept relations with both Kyiv and Moscow and has hosted earlier war diplomacy. Reuters said Kyiv asked Ankara directly, while Associated Press described the summit idea as an attempt to inject momentum into U.S.-led negotiations. (usnews.com) (apnews.com) There is no sign that a leaders’ meeting is agreed or that a ceasefire is in place. The latest reporting from April 22 still paired the diplomatic push with fresh drone and missile attacks as the war entered its fifth year. (apnews.com) For now, Kyiv is putting a summit on the table and leaving the next move to Moscow and potential hosts. Whether Putin accepts may show if the 2026 talks are moving beyond process and toward terms. (bloomberg.com)
