Vladimir Putin is afraid over being assassinated if he meets with Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey on Thursday.The 72-year-old tyrant has escalated security measures and remains ensconced within his Kremlin stronghold,

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that if President Trump attended the talks, it would put pressure on Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, to meet face-to-face.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is prepared to meet Vladimir Putin this week, shortly after US President Donald Trump urged him to “immediately” accept the Russian leader’s offer to hold peace talks in Turkey.

The Kremlin will report on possible contacts of the presidents Russian and Brazilian President Vladimir Putin and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, if any, are agreed, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to help secure a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday, accusing the Russian leader of not seriously wanting to negotiate an end to the war.

U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.

Yermak pointed to "very strong and very clear statements" by U.S. President Donald Trump that he would like Putin and Zelensky to meet for direct talks in Istanbul, and may even attend himself.

American citizens were urged to be ready to take shelter immediately if air raid sirens sound. Concern is mounting after the end of Russia ’s self-imposed three-day Victory Day ceasefire. It comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated he is prepared to meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey to discuss a possible ceasefire.