**Ukrainian President Seeks to Show Trump That Putin is the Real Obstacle to Peace**
In a recent announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that he plans to travel to Ankara on May 15th to meet with Turkish President Erdoğan. However, he expressed his readiness to go to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin actually arrives there.
The move is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding potential talks in Turkey. The discussions began when leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Poland visited Kyiv, consulting with US President Donald Trump along the way. They presented Putin with an ultimatum: agree to a 30-day ceasefire by May 12th or face additional sanctions.
Unfortunately, Putin rejected this ultimatum, choosing instead to propose resuming direct negotiations based on the 2022 Istanbul protocols. These protocols have been characterized as amounting to Ukraine’s surrender. Zelenskyy hopes that these talks in Turkey will demonstrate to Trump that Putin is not genuinely interested in achieving peace.
**A Shift in Diplomatic Efforts**
The fact that Putin proposed resuming direct negotiations, rather than agreeing to the ultimatum, suggests a shift in his approach to resolving the conflict. While this may be seen as a positive development by some, others are more skeptical, viewing it as an attempt to delay and divert attention from the real issues at hand.
For Zelenskyy and Ukraine, however, the focus remains on finding a solution that prioritizes their sovereignty and security. The upcoming meeting in Turkey will likely be closely watched, with many hoping that it marks a turning point in the diplomatic efforts surrounding this long-running conflict.
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