President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that if President Trump attended the talks, it would put pressure Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, to meet face-to-face.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Ankara on May 15, prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct talks — if Putin attends. Zelensky warned that Putin’s absence would signal his unwillingness to end the conflict and called for new sanctions if he fails to show.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he will be present in Turkey for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh he expects new sanctions to be imposed on Russia if a 30-day unconditional ceasefire isn’t agreed upon.

The president said he's optimistic about Thursday's expected talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul.

Ukraine said Tuesday that if Vladimir Putin skips talks in Turkey it would be a "clear sign" to the world the Russian leader is not serious about peace, and the West should reply with boosted military support to Kyiv.

UKRAINE is now piling the pressure on Russia as Vladimir Putin stays silent on his own offer to meet for peace talks on Thursday. Moscow’s bungle has seen Volodymyr Zelenksy take up

American citizens were urged to be ready to take shelter immediately if air raid sirens sound. Concern is mounting after the end of Russia ’s self-imposed three-day Victory Day ceasefire. It comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated he is prepared to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey to discuss a possible ceasefire.

Vladimir Putin has until midnight to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine or leading European states, including the UK, will impose new sanctions against Russia, the German government's spokesman has said.