Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged Vladimir Putin to meet him in Istanbul, Turkey, this week in a bid to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end - though it is not clear if the Russian leader will atte

The Kremlin will report on possible contacts of the presidents Russian and Brazilian President Vladimir Putin and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, if any, are agreed, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing.

As he heads to Turkey for negotiations, Zelensky is betting that Trump will soon realize that Russia does not want to make peace.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to help secure a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, accusing the Russian leader of not seriously wanting to negotiate an end to the war.

Following Vladimir Zelensky, the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, also showed Kiev's "readiness" for negotiations. The Ukrainian official said in a telegram channel that his boss first demands a cease-fire,

Yermak pointed to "very strong and very clear statements" by U.S. President Donald Trump that he would like Putin and Zelensky to meet for direct talks in Istanbul, and may even attend himself.

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