US President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to participate in a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Folodimir Zellinski in Istanbul next Thursday – if he sees an opportunity to make progress towards ending the war between the two countries.
Trump said – at a press conference today, Monday, before its start on an external tour that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE – he is considering passing Istanbul.
“I am not sure where I will be on Thursday. I have very many meetings. But there is a possibility (to visit Istanbul) if you see a fruitful thing that may happen.”
The US President explained that he was consumed by the possible meeting between Putin and Zelinski, and said that there was “an opportunity for a good meeting.”
“Do not underestimate Khamis in Türkiye. (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdogan is a great host,” he added.
Since the beginning of his second presidential term, Trump has sought an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to stop the raging war since February 2022.
For his part, the Turkish president urged the Russian and Ukrainian sides to seize this opportunity to settle the dispute between them.
Erdogan said after a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart today that “a new opportunity has crystallized thanks to recent contacts.
As for Zelinski, he said, “President Erdogan can host high -level meetings. Thank you to everyone who helped us.”
Putin yesterday suggested that they held direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, after Kiev and European leaders called on Saturday to a 30 -day ceasefire.
In light of this, Zelinski said he was ready to meet Putin, but he did not declare whether he would attend if Russia rejected the European proposal for the truce that was supposed to start today.
For his part, the Kremlin said today that Russia rejects the “language of warnings” and that it is determined to search seriously for a long -term settlement on Ukraine.
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