Donald Trump has offered a five-word verdict on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend direct peace talks with Ukraine – an idea he had proposed himself last weekend – in Turkey. The US has been trying for weeks to mediate talks between the two countries to end Russia’s brutal three-year war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
But though Trump has thus far been exerting far more diplomatic pressure on Ukraine than Russia as he seeks a quick end to the fighting, there are signs he may be growing impatient with Moscow as its forces continue to attack Ukraine. Russia effectively rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, starting Monday, that was demanded by Ukraine and Western European leaders. Rather than agreeing to a truce, Russia fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine. Putin then offered direct peace talks in Turkey on Saturday, which Zelensky accepted, saying he was ready to speak to the Russian leader face-to-face on May 15.
Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on Thursday to speak to Turkey’s leader, but will be ready at a moment’s notice to travel to Istanbul should Putin decide to meet him.
Zelensky said he would “do everything to agree on a ceasefire, because it is with [Putin] that I must negotiate a ceasefire, as only he can decide on it.”
But Putin has yet to commit to showing up. His spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked whether the Russian President’s meetings on Thursday would be in Russia, replying only: “The president has working meetings scheduled… Working meetings.”
While speaking to reporters on Air Force One today during a trip to the Middle East, Trump said, referring to Putin: “He’d like me to be there, and that’s a possibility. … I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there.” Issuing a five-word verdict on whether the Russian president will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, he added: “We’re going to find out.”
Zelensky taunted Putin, claiming he is “scared”, amid reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be sent instead of the Russian leader.
He said: “If he takes the step to say he is ready for a ceasefire then it opens the way to discussing all the elements to end the war. I’m not even mentioning that he is scared of direct talks with me.”
Zelensky said that if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then he will travel there from Ankara.
“If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader added that if Putin doesn’t show up, European and US leaders should follow through with threats of additional and heavy sanctions against Russia.
