Trump's offer to join Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul triggers flurry of diplomatic calls
Photo: Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
American and European diplomats held a series of phone talks for several hours after US President Donald Trump proposed joining the possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reports.
Trump's unexpected proposal to join the talks in Istanbul on May 15 came the day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making a new contribution to the peace process, announced that he would visit Türkiye and wait there for a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Reaction from Washington and EU
Following Trump's statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed a "way forward for a ceasefire" in Ukraine with his European counterparts, including the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and France, as well as the European Union High Representative, the State Department said.
According to the report, the phone conversation also included Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his counterparts from Germany and Poland.
Position of Russia and Türkiye
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov late in the evening on May 12 held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, a proposal that came from Putin over the weekend, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
It remained unclear who exactly would travel from Moscow to Istanbul to participate in the direct talks, which would be the first between the two sides since the early days of the war Russia launched with its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kremlin's uncertainty
The Kremlin has so far not responded to Zelensky's proposal to meet with Putin in Istanbul, and Moscow has also not commented on Trump's offer to join the negotiations.
If Zelenskyy and Putin, who make no secret of their contempt for each other, meet on May 15, it would be their first face-to-face encounter since December 2019.
Trump's comment and schedule
"Don't underestimate Thursday in Türkiye," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.
Trump's current schedule includes visits this week to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Pressure from Ukraine and Europe
Ukraine and its European allies are trying to pressure Moscow into agreeing to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12.
Putin called Europe's and Ukraine's demands for a ceasefire "ultimatums." The Kremlin stated that they are unacceptable for Russia.
On Saturday, the leaders of four major European countries will travel to Kyiv to show unity with Zelenskyy.
Earlier, the German government stated that Europe would begin preparing new sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin does not begin observing a ceasefire by the end of May 12.
Ukrainian military officials reported that fighting along the eastern front line continues with the same intensity as if there were no ceasefire.
According to Bloomberg, European leaders plan to wait for a possible meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Türkiye before asking Washington to tighten sanctions against Moscow.
