Russia is not responding to Ukraine's proposal for a meeting in Istanbul. And this silence is very strange, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The head of state reminded that he had negotiations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comments mark the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the U.S.-led peace effort.

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.