Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him publicly to immediately accept the Kremlin leader's proposal of direct talks.

By Ben Aris in Belrin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy agreed to hold face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15, after thecoalition of the willing called the Russian leader out and gave him an ultimatum to start a 30-day ceasefire on Monday or face “crushing” sanctions.

KYIV − Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would agree to meet Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him immediately to accept Putin's proposal of direct talks.