Kiev, Ukraine - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet him in person on Thursday in Turkey, the latest move in the weekend's proposal to exchange on weekends.

Zelenskyy said he still hopes to cease fire with Russia starting Monday, and he will "wait for Turkey" in Turkey after U.S. President Donald Trump insists that Ukraine accepts Russia's latest proposal. Ukraine, together with European allies, demanded that Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday before meeting on Monday, but Moscow effectively rejected the proposal and called for direct negotiations.

It is not clear whether Zelenskyy held his presence in Turkey on Monday's ceasefire, and the Kremlin immediately commented on whether Putin would appear. In 2022, early month of the war, Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a private meeting with the Russian president but was rejected and eventually issued a decree declaring that it was impossible to negotiate with Putin.

"From tomorrow we are waiting for a fulfilling and lasting ceasefire to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. It is meaningless to prolong the murder. I will wait for Putin (Turkey) on Thursday. Personally. I hope that the Russians will not look for excuses this time," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Sunday.

Trump said in a social media post earlier Sunday that Ukraine should agree to Putin's peace talks "immediately."

"At least they will be able to determine whether a deal is possible, if not, European leaders and the United States will know where everything is and can proceed accordingly!" Trump wrote, adding: "Come meeting now, now!!!"

Ukraine, allies insist on ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Zelenskyy in Kiev on Saturday and issued a coordinated call on Monday for a 30-day truce. The plan has been supported by the EU and Trump.

If Putin does not accept the proposal, leaders promise tougher sanctions on Russia.

Putin effectively rejected the proposal overnight after an announcement to the media, and proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Ukraine on Thursday, rather than "no prerequisites." He did not specify whether Thursday's negotiations would involve Zelenskyy and himself.

He said a consensus ceasefire could be reached during the negotiations, but stressed that the Kremlin needed a truce, which would lead to "lasting peace" rather than allowing Ukraine to re-mobilize more people and mobilize more people to join its armed forces.

Zelenskyy said on X on Sunday morning that it was a "positive signal that the Russians finally began to think about ending the war" but insisted on a ceasefire first.

Putin and Zelenskyy only met once in 2019. After repeated calls for private meetings with Russian leaders, Zelenskyy decided to illegally annex four regions in September 2022, after the Kremlin decision in September 2022, Zelenskyy promulgated negotiations with Putin, which was impossible.

Macron said on Sunday that Putin's proposal to negotiate directly with Ukraine was a "first step, but not enough", indicating that Western intentions for Moscow continue to be suspicious.

French media said: "There was no negotiation before the unconditional ceasefire."

Moscow is imminent in accordance with peace negotiations. Türkiye says it's ready to host

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Putin's proposal "very serious" to eliminate "the root cause of the conflict" and said "confirm the intention to find a peaceful solution."

Trump said in a social media post a few hours later after Putin’s overnight comment that it was “a great day for Russia and Ukraine!”

"Think about thousands of lives that will be saved because this never-ending 'Bloodbath' is expected to end," Trump wrote. "I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that happens," he added.

In another article on Sunday, the U.S. president said Ukraine should accept Putin's proposal to "meet on Thursday in Türkiye to end a bloody end." However, he added that he "begins doubting Ukraine will reach an agreement with Putin."

The Kremlin said Putin spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, who said he was ready to preside over the negotiations.

According to the Kremlin's readings on the phone, Erdogan "fully supports Russia's proposal" and is ready to provide a platform for organizing and assisting.

Erdogan said in another call on Sunday that he was ending the war to end the war to end the war, according to a statement from the Turkish President's Office of Communications.

As the attack continues, the next problem remains

Zelenskyy said in Sunday's night video address that he still hopes for a ceasefire on Monday and that he is still waiting for Russia's "definite answer" to it.

Zelenskyy said he is still waiting to see reactions from Western allies, and they promise strong sanctions on Russia if Putin does not comply with Monday's truce.

"We have heard many times that partners have heard that if Putin refuses a ceasefire, they are ready to strengthen sanctions against Russia. We will see," he said.

He reiterated that he will attend in Türkiye on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not immediately respond to the Associated Press request for comment.

Meanwhile, Russia, which claimed to have expired for a three-day pause, resumed a massive Ukrainian drone attack earlier on Sunday.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 108 attack drones and simulator drones from six different directions. It said that 60 drones were shot down due to Ukraine’s countermeasures and another 41 simulator drones failed to reach their targets.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of "violating" Moscow's three-day ceasefire more than 14,000 times on Sunday. Ukraine disagreed with the ceasefire from May 8 to 10, and he also accused Russia of violating its truce, which Ukrainian Foreign Minister called it a farce.

A Russian official on Sunday night also accused Ukrainian troops of conducting missile strikes in a small town in the Russian Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. Acting state governor Alexander Khinshtein said in a telegram that the strike "severely damaged" a hotel in Rylsk, a small town east of the Ukrainian border and injured three people.