Ukraine Asks Turkey To Host Zelenskiy-Putin Talks as Kyiv Seeks To Revive Peace Negotiations

KYIV, April 22 — Ukraine has formally asked Turkey to host direct talks between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, as Kyiv looks to reinvigorate stalled peace negotiations in the more-than-four-year war.

Sybiha told reporters that Kyiv had "asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals," and that his remarks were cleared for release on Wednesday. He said Ukraine would be prepared to meet in any location except Belarus or Russia.

Why Belarus and Russia Are Excluded

Belarus is a close Russian ally and permitted Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a factor Kyiv says makes Minsk an unacceptable venue. Ukraine has also ruled out meeting inside Russia.

Sybiha did not disclose how the Turkish authorities in Ankara responded to the request. "We addressed the Turks specifically," he said. "But if another capital, besides Moscow and Belarus, organises such a meeting, we will go."

Context: The Kremlin previously said it would be willing to host Zelenskiy in Moscow — a trip the Ukrainian president has said he will not take.

Separately, Sybiha said he had exchanged written messages with Anita Orban, who is set to become Hungary's new foreign minister when the incoming government that won this month's election takes office.

Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Thomas Derpinghaus.