--- title: "Zelenskyy Announces Readiness for Face-to-Face Meeting with Putin in Turkey: Key Goal is Ceasefire" description: "In an interview with CNN Türk, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his readiness for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey for the sake of a ceasefire. Moscow, according to Lavrov, is ready for a meeting, but in Moscow." date: 2026-11-01T16:59:59.784Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-ready-meeting-putin-turkey tags: [ukraine, zelensky, putin, turkey, ceasefire, negotiations] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy Announces Readiness for Face-to-Face Meeting with Putin in Turkey: Key Goal is Ceasefire ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives an interview to a Turkish TV channel about meeting Putin](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/01/zelensky-gotov-k-vstreche-s-putinym-v-turcii/zelensky-gotov-k-vstreche-s-putinym-v-turcii-1.webp) ## Key Points - Zelenskyy stated in a CNN Türk interview that he is ready for a face-to-face meeting with Putin in Turkey, with the main goal being a ceasefire along the entire frontline. - Kyiv relies on Erdogan's assistance and considers high-level dialogue necessary after the failure of delegation contacts. - Meeting agenda: ceasefire, monitoring mechanism, security guarantees, reconstruction, and territorial issues. - Zelenskyy ruled out concessions on Donbas and Crimea as contradicting the Constitution of Ukraine. - Lavrov stated that Putin is ready for a personal meeting, but in Moscow; the Ukrainian President's Office clarified that Zelenskyy does not yet plan to call Putin. On November 1, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with the Turkish television channel CNN Türk that he is ready to hold a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey. According to the Ukrainian leader, the primary goal of such contact should be a ceasefire along the entire frontline. Zelenskyy emphasized that high-level dialogue is "necessary," as previous contacts between the parties have not yet led to the end of the war. ### Why Turkey Specifically The Ukrainian leader explained that he is counting on the assistance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in organizing the negotiations, citing his personal ties with Vladimir Putin. "I know that President Erdogan has his own ties with Putin. Therefore, we support a meeting in Turkey," Zelenskyy stated. He recalled that delegations have already held talks in Turkey, and technical groups have met in the UAE, noting that despite certain results, the war continues. In his estimation, further progress requires the political will of the countries' leaders. ### Agenda of the Potential Meeting Among the key topics for a meeting with Putin, Zelenskyy named a ceasefire along the frontline and the creation of a mechanism to monitor compliance with agreements. In addition, at the presidential level, he believes it is necessary to discuss security guarantees, the reconstruction of Ukraine, and territorial issues. The head of state emphasized that direct negotiations can help find solutions to issues that cannot be resolved at the level of delegations and technical groups: "That is why I want to meet with him as the decision-maker." ### Kyiv's Red Lines At the same time, Zelenskyy assured that he will not agree to demands to cede the Donbas and recognize Crimea as Russian, explaining that such concessions would contradict the Constitution of Ukraine. He also warned that the leaders' meeting must lead to concrete progress, otherwise it could be regarded as a failure of diplomacy. ### Moscow's Position and the Phone Call Issue The day before, on October 30, following the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Vladimir Putin is not refusing face-to-face talks, but, according to him, is ready for a personal meeting in Moscow. Simultaneously, sources note that preparations are underway for trilateral negotiations between Russia, the US, and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. The Kremlin has also stated that Putin could answer a call from Zelenskyy. The Office of the President of Ukraine, in turn, reported that Zelenskyy does not yet intend to call Putin. Thus, both sides confirm interest in high-level contact, but differ on the format and location of its holding. ## Accounts differ ### Location of a possible face-to-face meeting of presidents - **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:** Ready to hold a face-to-face meeting with Putin in Turkey, counting on Erdogan's assistance. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/gotoviy-zustrichi-putinim-turechchini-zelenskiy-1793552109.html)) - **Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:** Putin is ready for a personal meeting, but in Moscow. ([kz.kursiv.media](https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-11-01/tsse-zelenskii-zovet-putina-na-peregovory-v-turcziyu-moskva-vydvigaet-svoe-uslovie/)) *Where they agree:* Both sides confirm interest in a face-to-face meeting at the presidential level. ### Telephone contact between presidents - **Kremlin:** Putin can answer a call from Zelenskyy. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/gotoviy-zustrichi-putinim-turechchini-zelenskiy-1793552109.html)) - **Office of the President of Ukraine:** Zelenskyy does not yet intend to call Putin by phone. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/gotoviy-zustrichi-putinim-turechchini-zelenskiy-1793552109.html)) ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Я готов ко встрече с Путиным в Турции, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/gotoviy-zustrichi-putinim-turechchini-zelenskiy-1793552109.html) - Primary source: Zelenskyy's statement on readiness for a meeting in Turkey, quotes, agenda, refusal of concessions on Donbas/Crimea, Kremlin and OP position on the call. - [Зеленский зовет Путина на переговоры в Турцию, Москва выдвигает свое условие](https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-11-01/tsse-zelenskii-zovet-putina-na-peregovory-v-turcziyu-moskva-vydvigaet-svoe-uslovie/) - Confirms the CNN Türk interview; adds Lavrov's statement (30.10, G20 in Atlanta) on Putin's readiness for a meeting in Moscow and preparations for trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. - ["Есть очень важный момент": Зеленский назвал вероятное место встречи с Путиным](https://glavred.info/ukraine/est-ochen-vazhnyy-moment-zelenskiy-nazval-veroyatnoe-mesto-vstrechi-s-putinym-10808741.html) - Confirms the location (Turkey), the context of previous delegation meetings in Turkey and technical groups in the UAE, and the argument about the need for political progress. - [Зеленский предложил Путину встретиться в Турции](https://minval.az/news/124560559) - Confirms the fact of Zelenskyy's proposal for a meeting in Turkey and the need for discussion at the highest level. ## FAQ ### Where, according to Zelenskyy's statement, should the meeting with Putin take place? Zelenskyy stated in an interview with CNN Türk that he is ready to hold a face-to-face meeting with Putin in Turkey, relying on Erdogan's assistance. ### What is Moscow's position regarding the meeting location? According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin is ready for a personal meeting, but in Moscow. ### Under what conditions is Zelenskyy ready to discuss territorial issues? Zelenskyy assured that he will not agree to the transfer of Donbas and the recognition of Crimea as Russian, as this contradicts the Constitution of Ukraine. ### Does Zelenskyy plan to call Putin by phone? The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that Zelenskyy does not yet intend to call Putin, although the Kremlin previously noted that Putin could answer such a call.