Story perspectives

Ukraine Seeks Turkey-Hosted Zelensky-Putin Summit, Rejects Russian Venues

4/23/2026

Summary

Ukraine Requests Summit

Ukraine requested Turkey host a summit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin, said Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Kyiv rejects Belarus, Russia and a Moscow venue, accepts a ceasefire while refusing to withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk.
U.S. mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have shifted focus to Middle East after Iranian escalations, with analysts saying President Putin aims to capture rest of Donbas in two months, stalling talks.

Summary

Putin Delays Summit

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin will meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow only after lower-level negotiators finalize a deal.
He said any summit must have a purpose and be productive, serving solely to finalise the settlement.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that resuming talks is not a current priority for Moscow.
The Kremlin calls the war a “special military operation” to protect interests and stop terrorism from Kyiv.

History

Historical Context

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed on March 3, 1918, marked Russia's exit from World War I, resulting in significant territorial losses, including Ukraine and the Baltic states. This treaty, involving figures like Lenin and Trotsky, fueled internal dissent and set the stage for future conflicts. Ukraine's current request for Turkey's mediation echoes these historical territorial disputes, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.

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Ukraine Requests Summit

Ukraine requested Turkey host a summit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin, said Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Kyiv rejects Belarus, Russia and a Moscow venue, accepts a ceasefire while refusing to withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk.
U.S. mediators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have shifted focus to Middle East after Iranian escalations, with analysts saying President Putin aims to capture rest of Donbas in two months, stalling talks.

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