US President Donald Trump is contemplating attending forthcoming peace negotiations in Turkey, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These discussions, scheduled for Thursday, come as the United States intensifies its diplomatic pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv to conclude the three-year conflict.
During his current diplomatic tour of the Gulf region, which includes visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, Trump has expressed potential interest in diverting to Turkey if it seems beneficial to the peace efforts.
The prospect of Trump’s attendance has been met with a positive response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed his country’s appreciation for such support and echoed Trump’s advocacy for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky, signaling readiness for dialogue, responded positively to Putin’s proposal for direct talks in Turkey, a scenario not witnessed since the early stages of Russia’s intensified military actions in Ukraine in 2022. However, this move by Trump has been perceived as a shift from his previous stance demanding a ceasefire as a prerequisite for negotiations.
As of now, the Russian government has not confirmed the participation of Putin or any high-ranking officials in the talks. Meanwhile, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to diplomatic solutions, while lamenting Russia’s lack of response to ceasefire proposals.
Recently, European allies of Ukraine issued a stern ultimatum to Russia, demanding an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or facing substantial sanctions, a stance supported by Trump. The Trump administration, however, has faced challenges in persuading Russia of its sincerity in peace negotiations, with Trump’s latest suggestion deviating from earlier demands for a ceasefire, marking a notable shift in strategy.
The Kremlin, while stating Putin’s commitment to peace negotiations, has not provided further details. Conversations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart have occurred, yet the participation of Putin remains unconfirmed.
President Zelensky has also engaged with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has shown full commitment to facilitating the meeting, offering Istanbul as the venue. Erdogan remains hopeful that these renewed diplomatic efforts will not be in vain.
Frustration within the Trump administration is growing over the stagnant peace process, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating a possible shift in strategy if progress remains elusive.
