Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to travel to Turkey this week to engage in negotiations focused on achieving "true and lasting peace," as stated by his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. This development follows an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct talks "without any preconditions," amidst the protracted conflict that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Putin proposed a meeting between officials from Moscow and Kyiv to take place in Istanbul this week. Yermak confirmed that while Ukraine has not yet received confirmation of Putin's participation, President Zelenskyy is prepared to attend the talks.
In response to Russia's overture, Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine is willing to participate in peace discussions only if the Kremlin agrees to a 30-day ceasefire. Yermak reiterated this stance, stating that Ukraine is ready to discuss any issues, but "only if a ceasefire is achieved."
During a keynote discussion at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Yermak emphasized Ukraine's desire for peace, asserting, "We want peace, but we didn’t start this war. Our people are under attack 24/7."
Yermak also indicated that if Putin declines to attend the talks in Turkey, it would signal Russia's unwillingness to end the conflict or engage in negotiations. He urged that, should Russia refuse to negotiate, Ukraine's allies should enhance their support, including the provision of security guarantees.
"We're ready to discuss any options that are on the table. There are many interesting and very strong options," Yermak noted, highlighting the importance of Ukraine's prepared military forces in securing necessary support from allies.
He further mentioned that another significant security guarantee for Ukraine could be its accession to NATO. "It's a topic of discussion only between NATO countries and Ukraine, not Russia," Yermak clarified, acknowledging that not all NATO members are prepared to endorse Ukraine's full membership in the alliance.
Yermak's comments also alluded to the reservations expressed by certain governments, such as Hungary and Slovakia, as well as statements from U.S. officials regarding Ukraine's NATO aspirations. Nonetheless, he pointed to a recent minerals agreement with the U.S. and a visit by European leaders to Ukraine as signs of continued support for Kyiv from its allies.
