Zelensky to CNN Türk: ready to meet Putin in Turkey, but neither the Donbas nor recognition of Crimea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey to discuss a ceasefire, security guarantees and the future of the occupied territories. In an interview with CNN Türk, made public on Monday, November 2, he nonetheless ruled out surrendering the Donbas or recognising Crimea as Russian territory, saying such concessions would violate Ukraine’s Constitution.

“We are ready for this meeting in Turkey. I know President Erdoğan has his own ties with Putin. That is why we support holding the meeting in Turkey,” Mr Zelensky said, describing Turkey as a practical and realistic mediator for future talks between Moscow and Kyiv. He argued that contacts at delegation and technical-team level have not brought the war to an end, which is why a direct meeting of the presidents is needed. “That is exactly why I want to meet him, as the person who makes the decisions,” he added.

A ceasefire along the front line

Mr Zelensky said the main topics of a meeting should be a ceasefire along the current front line, as a first step, and a mechanism for monitoring compliance. The presidents should also discuss security guarantees, Ukraine’s reconstruction and the status of the occupied territories, which Mr Zelensky ruled out formally recognising as Russian. The technical talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US expected in November in Abu Dhabi will, he said, focus on a partial ceasefire on energy and at sea and on prisoner exchanges. Kyiv hopes they will pave the way for a summit, most likely with the participation of Donald Trump. Moscow is asking Kyiv to cede the Donbas, a demand that effectively froze the peace talks earlier this year.

Ankara’s role

Mr Zelensky met Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on October 31, where they discussed bilateral relations and security in the Black Sea. Turkey maintains economic ties with Russia while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. In 2022 it played a central role in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Moscow withdrew a year later, and in 2025 it hosted three rounds of peace talks between Ukrainians and Russians. Mr Zelensky also referred to the G20 summit in Miami in December, saying Ukraine has not received an official invitation from Washington but would accept one if Mr Trump extended it.