Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the stakes ahead of a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin in Turkey by saying he wouldn’t hold talks with any Russian representative other than the president himself.

Russia has not yet said who it will send to Istanbul on Thursday and has refused to respond to ultimatums.

Putin hasn't yet said whether he will be at the talks, which Trump has urged Ukraine and Russia to attend as part of Washington's efforts to stop the fighting.

A top official says Turkey is closely monitoring any attempts to undermine its peace initiative with the PKK following the militant Kurdish group’s announcement that it is ending its decades-long armed conflict with the Turkish state.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey is embarking on a hazardous path to ensure the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group implements its decision to disband after 40 years of conflict, facing obstacles that need to be overcome in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party said it will disarm and disband as part of a peace initiative with Turkey, the PKK-affiliated Firat News Agency reported.