- Category
- Latest news
Ukraine Will Achieve Ceasefire, Zelenskyy Says at Press Conference on Sanctions and Upcoming Türkiye Talks
- Authors
![Maryna_kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
-924c3c302c27387e19f6c44aaeb98745.png "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
In a press briefing on May 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed his upcoming meeting with Turkish President Erdogan, confirmed new sanctions targeting Russia’s banking and energy sectors, and highlighted China’s support for a 30-day ceasefire, according to UNITED24 Media correspondent.
Zelenskyy expressed confidence in achieving a ceasefire through continued diplomatic efforts, stating, “We will achieve it. Everything is ahead of us.”
Zelenskyy began by noting that it had been 63 days since the United States first proposed a ceasefire. He confirmed his plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, with the possibility of traveling to Istanbul if Russian leader Vladimir Putin agrees to attend.
“If Putin flies to Istanbul, we will fly to Istanbul,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that the minimum expectation for any potential talks is a ceasefire.
The President made it clear that if no ceasefire is agreed upon, the meeting would be considered a failure. “Without a ceasefire, the meeting would show Russia is not serious,” he said. He also opened the door to meeting with lower-level Russian officials if necessary, though he reiterated his preference for direct talks with Putin.
Zelenskyy also shared that he personally does not expect Putin to attend the talks and confirmed that he has not spoken with US President Donald Trump since May 10.
However, Zelenskyy noted that lower-level conversations between US officials, including presidential special representatives Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellog and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been ongoing daily.
“I’m ready to meet with Putin,” Zelenskyy said regarding his travel to Türkiye. When asked how he imagines the meeting, he replied, “I don’t know, I don’t even imagine it.”
On the issue of sanctions, Zelenskyy confirmed that new measures would target Russia’s banking and energy sectors.
“I hope the sanctions package will resemble what US Senator Lindsey Graham has proposed,” he remarked. Zelenskyy expects discussions with European leaders to culminate in sanctions being enacted by mid-to-late May. “It should be the strongest sanctions package,” he stated.
Addressing China’s position, Zelenskyy stated that China supports a 30-day ceasefire, which he sees as a positive sign for diplomatic efforts.
“If Putin agrees to a ceasefire, even without direct negotiations, it opens the way forward,” Zelenskyy said, acknowledging that the Kremlin remains the only party unwilling to commit to a ceasefire.
Previously, Ukraine has held a series of online meetings with representatives from the United States, European Union, Nordic countries, and Baltic states to discuss a proposed 30-day ceasefire, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, stated on his Telegram channel on May 8.
