Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Sunday proposed direct negotiations in Turkey on Thursday "without any preconditions," but he did not say who would attend from Moscow's side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he would attend the talks with Russia only if Putin is also there.

What will unfold remains unclear. The Kremlin has refused to confirm who’s going to Turkey and whether it will include Putin. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelensky will only sit down with the Russian leader.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.