He said he hoped for the current period of frantic and high -ending at stake and he would end with understanding that it is the real obstacle to a peace agreement.
“Trump has to believe that Putin is really lying. And we have to logically approach this issue, to show that we are not the ones who slow down the process, “Zelenskyy said, speaking to a small group of journalists, at his office in the presidential administration in Kiev.
In Turkey on Thursday Zelenski
During the interview, Zelenskyy said he would travel to Turkey on Thursday, whether Putin flies for talks or not.
He also said he had arranged to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but would be ready to fly to Constantinople in an unsuspecting time if the Russian leader appeared. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” he said Tuesday.
Zelenski: I’m waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday
After Putin requested direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Constantinople, Zelenski said he would expect Putin personally in Turkey on Thursday.
Trump, who visits Saudi Arabia, appeared to show the idea of a tripartite meeting with Putin and Zelenski, saying Monday: “I think the two leaders will be there. I was thinking of flying from there. “
Zelenski expressed hope that Trump would actually meet him in Turkey. “If Trump travels, he will push Putin to travel as well,” he said. “Trump can really help. The US presence can give significant guarantees. “
Trilateral summit in Turkey?
Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kogg, also suggested the possibility of a trilateral summit. “This could be a really great meeting … We hope President Putin will come and then President Trump will be there,” he told Fox News. Kellogg, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoy Steve Witkoff are also expected, according to Guardian information, in Turkey.
Doubtful if Putin will go to Turkey
However, there is little indications that Putin is willing to travel. Although it has not immediately ruled out, Kremlin comments suggest that Russia will instead send a lower level negotiating team to Constantinople.
Russia for Ukraine Recovering
“Our delegation will be there and will wait for the Ukrainian side,” said Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday night. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia wants to use any talks to cope with the “main causes” of the conflict, as Moscow sees them, including the “degradation” of Ukraine and the official integration of Russia. It is still far away.
Zelenskyy said that he believes that without a ceasefire that will be agreed by leaders, there is no reason to start lower -level conversations.
Zelenski: We have to find a way to stop the war
“I want you to understand why I would meet Putin. We will not be able to agree on everything now. It’s impossible. We have different approaches to life, different worldviews. But we must somehow find a way to end the war, “he said. If he and Putin could agree on a ceasefire, Zelenskyy said, then lower level groups could meet to start forging the details of the next steps.
He pointed out previous talks in Saudi Arabia when the Americans acted as intermediaries between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations and it was not possible to agree on a constant full ceasefire. “Without a meeting of the leaders, this form does not work,” he said.
However, when he was pressured, he refused to exclude the possibility of sending a lower -level delegation to Istanbul for talks. “I don’t know. I’m honest. Maybe Americans, maybe someone will really want to start this figure again. I don’t know, “he said.
The Euro -American ultimatum and the proposal of Putin
which was scheduled for a symbolically one day after the military parade in Moscow for the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. After talking to Trump by phone, the four European leaders put an ultimatum to Putin that he would have to sign a 30 -day truce by Monday, otherwise he would face further sanctions. Putin rejected the ultimatum by offering instead
Sanctions in Russia if there is no progress in diplomacy
If nothing is agreed during any meetings in Turkey this week, the big question is, the Guardian estimates, if Europeans can bring Trump with them to their plans to step up pressure on Moscow. Zelenski said he hoped that new sanctions would soon be on the agenda if Thursday’s meetings end up nothing.
“I believe that President Trump is not against the imposition of sanctions … and I believe that there is a political will in Congress to vote for these sanctions. I believe that Americans are very close to imposing these sanctions, “he said. He added that in the coming days there will be consultations – “if you allow me, I will not tell where and when” – in which Europeans will be informed of the upcoming US sanctions plans.
The restoration of Zelensi – US relationship
The Ukrainian president has been walking on a diplomatic stretched rope in recent weeks, as Kiev is trying to keep the Trump government on his side. Following the catastrophic meeting at the White House in late February, Zelenski seems to have been successful in the reversal of the relationship, culminating in a positive meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican last month.
Asked what Trump told him to win him again, Zelenskyy refused to answer: “I won’t tell you. I know the reasons- in my opinion, I know why we had such a good conversation. But I can’t say, I just can’t. “
British and French officials regularly speak with their Ukrainian counterparts after the White House fiasco and provide guidance on how to restore relations with the US government.
Mr Zelenskyy said that contact with the European allies was closer and more frequent than ever and that French President Emmanuel Macron was one of the “two or three” leaders with whom he was regularly talking. “He has a very creative approach … He is a man who takes risks. And the risky may be different kinds of people, but they all focus on the results. They do not put themselves above anything else, “Zelenskyy said.
Following his visit to Turkey, Zelenskyy is expected to visit Albania for a European politician meeting on Friday and then can travel to Rome, where he suggested that he could attend the opening operation of the new Pope, Leo, after a positive telephone conversation with him.
“I think this could happen on Sunday,” Zelenskyy said. “If all goes well. We don’t know what this week will bring. We have arrived when we do not know what will happen tomorrow. “
