(Web Desk)– Ukraine has officially requested that Turkey host a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to restart stalled peace negotiations. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed on Wednesday that Kyiv is actively looking for a neutral location to move the more than four-year-old conflict toward a resolution. While Ukraine has reached out to other capitals as well, Turkey is seen as a primary candidate due to its previous role as a mediator between the two nations.
Minister Sybiha emphasized that Ukraine is willing to meet in any location as long as it is not in Russia or Belarus. This is a firm stance because Belarus served as a staging ground for the 2022 invasion and remains a close ally of the Kremlin. Although the Russian government has previously expressed a willingness to meet in Moscow, President Zelenskiy has repeatedly rejected that option, insisting on a neutral international venue for any high-level talks.
While it is currently unclear how Turkish officials have responded to this specific proposal, the Minister noted that Ukraine remains open to any fair offer from other global powers to organize the summit. In addition to these diplomatic efforts, Minister Sybiha mentioned he has already begun corresponding with Anita Orban, who is set to become Hungary’s new foreign minister following their recent elections. This highlights Ukraine’s broader strategy to engage with regional neighbors as they navigate the complex path toward ending the war.
