The world is holding its breath in the next 24 hours to see if Russian President Vladimir Putin will show up for proposed face-to-face peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The historic meeting would be the first between the two since December 2019, when they met to discuss a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
NATO ministers including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will travel Turkey on Thursday, the country chosen for the two wartime leaders to begin possible talks for a ceasefire to end the bloody conflict. Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on May 15 to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Ukrainian President has said he is ready to travel to Istanbul, where the direct talks should take place, at a moment’s notice, should Putin want to join him.
However, the Kremlin has yet to confirm if the Russian President will even show up to the event, and Mr Putin was pictured today during a four-day official visit from leaders from Malaysia.
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Britain and its military allies will be working to “step up” their collective security at the separate NATO gathering in Antalya, Mr Lammy said, while the world holds its breath for a possible encounter between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
Speaking before the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, which will take place on the same day of the awated talks, Mr Lammy praised the Ukrainian president’s “commitment to peace” and readiness to enter negotiations.
The Foreign Secretary said: “Today, President Zelensky is in Turkey in a further demonstration of his commitment to peace, ready to enter talks direct with Russia and continuing to push for a full ceasefire as a first crucial step.
“As myself and my fellow Nato allies also travel to Turkey, we are united alongside Ukraine in our determination to secure a just and lasting peace. We are working to deliver more for our collective security and bring this barbaric war to an end.
At an informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council, Mr Lammy will update allies on UK steps to protect Euro-Atlantic security and “to force Putin’s hand”, the Foreign Office said.
The Foreign Secretary hosted counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU on Monday, discussing the future of Ukraine after a diplomatic blitz over the weekend by world leaders.
In a statement released after talks by the Weimar+ group of nations at Lancaster House in central London, the foreign ministers of the countries present said Russia “has not shown any serious intent to make progress”.
In an effort to pressure Mr Putin, they added: “It must do so without delay. We joined Ukraine in calling for an immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.”
Mr Zelensky said Donald Trump has been invited to the talks in Turkey but the US leader, who is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, has not confirmed his presence.
Washington has been applying pressure on both sides to come to the table since Mr Trump took office in January with a promise to end the war.