• Brazil's President Lula calls for Russian President Putin to attend peace talks in Istanbul.
• The negotiations are intended to be the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022.
• Lula emphasizes the need for negotiations as the only path to end the conflict.
• Zelenskyy and Trump have also pushed for face-to-face meetings with Putin in Turkey.
• The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will personally attend the talks.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has indicated he will personally urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend negotiations with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. Lula made his intentions clear before departing from a regional forum in China, stating, "It costs me nothing to say, 'hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit'" according to India Times, Al Jazeera, and Newsweek.

The proposed negotiations on Thursday would represent the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Lula's call comes amid a joint statement with China advocating for direct talks as the sole means to resolve the ongoing conflict, highlighting a significant diplomatic effort from Brazil according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to engage in direct talks and has challenged Putin's commitment to peace negotiations. He indicated he would be in Turkey waiting for the Russian leader, intensifying calls for immediate dialogue according to Newsweek and Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has also voiced his support for the meetings, suggesting he may attend himself, while emphasizing the necessity of negotiations to avoid further escalation. The Kremlin has yet to clarify if Putin will be personally present at the talks, insisting that a Russian delegation will still attend, according to India Times and Newsweek.