President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that if he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the main topics will be achieving a ceasefire and prisoner exchanges.

Source: Zelensky in an interview with Liberation

Direct quote: "If I meet with him, we must emerge with a political victory - a ceasefire, an exchange of all prisoners for all prisoners, or something similar".

Details: According to him, "Russians will not trust" Ukrainians, and Ukrainians "will not trust Russians". He believes that only external mediators can guarantee adherence to any agreements.

Zelensky insists on the need for reliable and balanced mediation that would be respected by both parties. He particularly mentions the USA as a possible guarantor of the control mechanism and believes that the presence of President Donald Trump could encourage the Russian leader to come: "If Putin does not come, it will look like total defeat for him".

He calls for new stringent sanctions against Russia, especially from the USA and the European Union.

Regarding the potential duration of the conflict, Zelensky replied: "No one knows how long it will last. But it will not be ten years. Ukraine cannot endure... It costs too much for everyone, not just for friends but for foes as well".

What preceded:

• Zelensky announced that he has a meeting scheduled with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, but if the Kremlin chief agrees to fly to Istanbul, he and Erdogan will go to meet him.
• Special envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will head to Istanbul, where talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Thursday.
• Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak stated that if Putin refuses to come to Turkey, it will be a final signal of Russia's unwillingness to end the war.
• At the same time, the Kremlin stated that the Russian side continues preparations for negotiations in Istanbul on May 15, and no further comments will be provided.