U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.

Ukraine had framed Zelensky's demand for a face-to-face meeting with Putin as a test of Russia's true willingness to negotiate peace. Arriving in Turkey, he slammed the Russian delegation as "theatrical" and contrasted it to Ukraine's high-level group.

Moscow’s massacres of Ukrainian civilians blew apart any semblance of good faith as Washington pushed for talks

President of Ukraine Zelensky and President of Turkey Erdogan have started a meeting in Ankara. This was reported by the President's spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov, Ukrinform reports. The spokesman confirmed to the media that the meeting is already underway.

Vladimir Putin is afraid over being assassinated if he meets with Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey on Thursday.The 72-year-old tyrant has escalated security measures and remains ensconced within his Kremlin stronghold,

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.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin failed to take advantage of a genuine opportunity for peace offered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed his readiness for a personal meeting. Instead,