Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He wants to meet face-to-face in Istanbul on Thursday. This comes after Donald Trump urged Ukraine to accept Putin's proposal for direct talks in Turkey. Zelensky's message was clear. He wrote, "There is no reason to keep the fighting going. I will be in Turkey on Thursday, waiting for Putin in person. " Before this, Zelensky had mentioned that Ukraine was open to talks. But he had a condition. He wanted a ceasefire first.

    Western countries have pushed for a 30-day pause in the fighting. This pause was supposed to start on Monday. European leaders had met in Kyiv over the weekend to discuss this. Putin's offer for direct talks came right after this meeting. On Sunday, Trump took to social media. He told Ukraine to accept Putin's offer "right away. " He believed it would help figure out if a deal was possible. If not, it would give everyone a clear picture of the situation. Trump's message was straightforward. Have the meeting now!

    Zelensky hopes Russia will agree to a ceasefire before the talks. He said, "We are waiting for a complete and lasting ceasefire starting tomorrow. This will give diplomacy a chance. " Putin, in a late-night speech, invited Ukraine to serious negotiations. He did not directly address the 30-day ceasefire. Instead, he talked about a new truce. He said it would be the first step towards long-term peace. He did not mention the ceasefire calls directly.

    The war started with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Putin's speech hinted at a possible truce. But he did not commit to the 30-day ceasefire. He spoke about a long-term peace. He did not address the immediate pause in fighting. This leaves the situation uncertain. Will the talks in Istanbul lead to a ceasefire? Or will they just be another step in a long process? Only time will tell.

    The world watches as these two leaders prepare to meet. The outcome of this meeting could shape the future of Ukraine and Russia. It could also impact global politics. The stakes are high. The world hopes for a peaceful resolution. But the path to peace is never easy.

Ukraine and Russia: A Step Towards Peace

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