Trump Might Wander Over to Turkey for Ukraine-Russia Peace Discussions
Trump Contemplates Attending Turkey for Proposed Zelenskyy-Putin Discussions - Russia Remains Quiet Regarding Participation
Catch His Potential Peculiar Presence in Istanbul!
On the diplomatic plane: If all Goes Swimmingly, Donald Trump might float on over to Turkey on Thursday for a chat between Ukraine and Russia’s leaders, although he hasn't made his presence official yet.
Getting the lowdown: As president, Trump has yearned for an end to the ruckus between them, so he's nudged both sides to converse, hoping to get this kerfuffle over with.
On a Sunday soapbox, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy poked Vladimir Putin to have a powwow with him on Thursday in Istanbul, but the Kremlin's heavyweight hasn't responded yet.
Sounding off: Speaking late Monday, Trump expressed his thoughts about jetting off: "They're thinking I might jet over... Got so many caffeine meetings; there's a possibility… If I think things can transpire."
Travel itinerary: Trump is planning a trip to the Middle East this week, stopping off in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE – looks like Turkey might be his final destination.
Backing the proposal: Zelenskyy welcomed the prospect of Trump attending the mingle-mangle. "I supported Trump with the notion of one-on-one chit-chat with Putin. I've been clear about my readiness to meet. And, of course, everyone in Ukraine would be delighted if Trump could tag along at the meeting in Turkey."
The silent treatment: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to share who or what would be shimmying down from the Russian side if anyone at all.
The long-term view: We're looking for a long-lasting, peaceful settlement; that’s the goal.
Flashback: This chitchat hoopla follows the "coalition of the willing," including the UK’s Keir Starmer, threatening Russia with additional sanctions if it fails to comply with a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejected.
Instead, Russia called for direct negotiations in Istanbul with Ukraine and challenged Mr. Zelenskyy to make the journey himself.
Ambiguous Relations: European Union commission vice president Kaja Kallas expressed doubts about whether Russia wants peace. "We need to see Russia wants peace too; it takes two to tango, and we see Russia dodges the dance, preferring to run on a war path."
Russian Aggression: Meanwhile, Russia carried on with nightly attacks on Ukraine, with more than 100 drones hurled over during the overnight into Tuesday.
Enrichment Data:
Details of Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
- Dialogue Context: The talks between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, following a stalemate in 2022.
- Turkey as a Venue: Russia proposed this venue hoping that the internationally recognized mediator, Turkey, can facilitate a smoother dialogue.
- Participants: Ukraine will send its defense minister, and Russia a low-ranking delegation. The talks are expected to result in consultations with European counterparts, but Marco Rubio from the U.S. will not be participating directly.
Donald Trump's Role in the Talks
- Interest Expression: Although Trump has shown interest in attending the talks, he has not yet decided to participate.
- Optimistic Outlook: Trump, ever the optimist, believes that a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is essential for making meaningful progress in the peace talks.
Overall Prognosis
- Analysts' Expectations: Low expectations surround these talks, with analysts anticipating military and diplomatic pressure from Russia.
- Challenges: The absence of a high-level Russian delegation and the lack of a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin pose significant obstacles to achieving substantial progress.
- The potential presence of Donald Trump in Turkey might serve as a catalyst for war-and-conflicts resolution, particularly in the Ukraine-Russia peace discussions.
- The upcoming Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul would involve diplomatic maneuvers and general-news updates, with Donald Trump expressing his interest in attending.
- The success of the Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul could be hampered by conflicting agendas and low-ranking participants, as several high-level figures, including Marco Rubio, have announced their absence from the negotiations.