Zelenskyy Dares Putin to Show Up: 30-Day Peace Plan Set for Turkish Summit

In a bold diplomatic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend upcoming peace negotiations in Turkey, warning that without Putin’s direct involvement, meaningful progress toward peace in the region may be impossible.

The summit, scheduled to take place in Ankara later this week, aims to secure a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine the first major step toward halting a conflict that has dragged on since 2022 and claimed thousands of lives.

“Only a face-to-face meeting with Putin can deliver the breakthrough needed,” Zelenskyy said in a televised address. “Russia’s system is built around him. If he truly wants peace, this is his moment to prove it.”

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The proposed ceasefire has garnered strong international support, particularly from the United States, Brazil, and China, all of whom are expected to play mediating roles in the summit. The plan calls for an immediate halt to hostilities along the entire front, including all missile, drone, and artillery attacks.

Ukraine has already agreed in principle to the U.S.-backed proposal, but its implementation depends on Russia’s official response and participation. Zelenskyy emphasized that the ceasefire is a temporary but extendable measure designed to open the door to longer-term negotiations and humanitarian relief.

The Ukrainian leader confirmed he will meet with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, who is hosting the summit. He also expressed readiness to travel to Istanbul, should Putin agree to attend the talks in person.

Adding further global weight to the event, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been invited to join the summit as an observer. While the Trump team has not confirmed his attendance, insiders suggest he is “strongly considering” the opportunity to play a diplomatic role.

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Analysts say the Turkish summit may be the most significant peace effort since the start of the war, but they remain cautious about expectations.

“This is not just about pausing a war it’s about testing political will on both sides,” said Anna Voronova, a Kyiv-based international relations expert. “Putin’s decision to attend or ignore the summit will speak volumes.”

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If successful, the summit could also lead to more structured peace frameworks under UN supervision. However, both sides remain heavily entrenched militarily, and recent escalations have cast doubt on the sincerity of their negotiating positions.

For now, the world waits and watches  to see if diplomacy can finally succeed where weapons have failed.