Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on Thursday to conduct the negotiations. He plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two will wait for Putin to arrive, he said. Zelenskyy said that if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there.

Russia and Ukraine have both reported attacks on their forces on the first day of a 72-hour ceasefire called by President Vladimir Putin

France and Germany are in close contact in their unwavering support for Ukraine and will continue to work towards a 30-day ceasefire, French president Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, speaking alongside new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Elysee palace.