Russia-Ukraine Talks: Trump Keeps Door Open to Turkey Trip

Shane Croucher is a Breaking News Editor based in London, UK. He has actually formerly managed the My Turn, Fact Check and News groups, and was a Senior Reporter before that, primarily covering U.S. news and politics. Shane signed up with Newsweek in February 2018 from IBT UK where he held different editorial functions covering various beats, consisting of basic news, politics, economics, company, and residential or commercial property. He is a graduate of the University of Lincoln, England. Languages: English. You can reach Shane by emailing s.croucher@newsweek.com

Shane Croucher

Breaking News Editor

Voice is AI-generated. Disparities might take place.

President Donald Trump stated he is still ready to take a trip to Turkey on Friday if sufficient development is made in the Istanbul peace talks in between Russia and Ukraine.

“I was thinking about going … If something happened, I’d go on Friday if it was appropriate,” Trump, who remains in the Middle East for a four-day trip, stated throughout his see to Qatar.

Why It Matters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains in Ankara and stated he wants to fulfill for in person talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin has not so far taken up the deal, sending out rather a lower-level delegation for the Istanbul, Turkey, settlements with Ukraine on Thursday, the very first set of direct talks in between the warring nations in more than 3 years.

What To Know

The Ukrainians have actually framed Putin’s presence of a conference with Zelensky– or do not have thereof– as a test of Russia’s real desire for peace. Kyiv and its allies in Europe are requiring even-stronger sanctions versus Russia if no ceasefire is concurred.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, informed CNN “no” when asked if there is a possibility of Putin participating in the talks in Istanbul.

“I actually said, why would he go if I’m not going? Because I wasn’t going to go,” Trump informed press reporters in Qatar when inquired about Putin’s absence of presence.

“I wasn’t planning to go. I would go. But I wasn’t planning to go. And I said I don’t think he’s going to go if I don’t go, and that turned out to be right. But we have people there … I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there.”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump Doha Qatar — Submit picture: Donald Trump consults with magnate at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on May 15, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Ukraine had actually required a complete and instant ceasefire before direct talks, however jeopardized when it ended up being clear Russia would not concur, though Moscow stated it looks for peace, too.

Russia stated it desired talks without conditions, and saw a ceasefire as one, a time out in the battling that Ukraine might utilize to regroup and rearm.

Trump had actually formerly required that significant development be made towards peace or he would ignore brokering the procedure.

He desires a speedy end to the war, mentioning the huge death and damage, and the concern on American taxpayers of financing Ukraine’s defense through military help.

Russia introduced its full-blown intrusion of Ukraine in February 2022, having actually at first gotten into in 2014 when it inhabited locations of the nation’s east and annexed Crimea, a tactically crucial peninsula on the Black Sea.

Ukraine and its allies implicated Russia of a royal war of hostility that looked for to take control of Kyiv and put it under Moscow’s control.

Moscow stated Ukraine’s desire to deepen its ties with the West, especially an aspiration to sign up with the NATO protective alliance, postured an unbearable security hazard that required it to act.

What People Are Saying

President Trump stated in Qatar: “We think we’re going to do well with Russia-Ukraine. Five thousand soldiers are being killed every single week on average. Five thousand … They are wiped out.

“If you see the satellite images. I get satellite images of that battleground, and I wish to inform you, I’ve never ever seen anything like that. I want I never ever saw it. You have heads and limbs scattered all over the field … So we’re visiting if we can end that.”

President Zelensky said in a post on X: “I am waiting to see who will originate from Russia, and after that I will choose which steps Ukraine ought to take. Far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing.

“We also hear that President Trump is considering attending the meeting in Türkiye. That could become the strongest argument. This week really may change a lot—but only may. Everything is being decided right now.”