Turkey's Erdogan says opportunity for Russia-Ukraine peace should be seized

ANKARA, May 12 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that there was a new window of opportunity to achieve peace between Ukraine and Russia after recent statements by the two countries, adding he hoped this opportunity would not be squandered.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him publicly to immediately accept the Kremlin leader's proposal of direct talks and raised the prospect of attending the talks himself.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said he had spoken to Zelenskiy on Monday and that Turkey was ready and happy to host any potential peace talks between the sides.