Zelenskyy welcomes Russian overtures, but says ceasefire must come before peace talks

By our Special Correspondent

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him publicly to immediately accept the Kremlin leader's proposal of direct talks.

Zelensky suggestion of a meeting with Putin capped a dramatic 48 hours in which European leaders joined Zelensky in demanding a 30-day ceasefire from Monday, only for Putin to make a counter-proposal to instead hold the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since the early months of the 2022 invasion.