A significant development in the ongoing Ukraine conflict has emerged, as US President Donald Trump considers sending senior envoys to Türkiye for potential peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. The talks, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, aim to reach a lasting settlement without preconditions. Putin’s proposal has been met with a mixture of responses, with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky expressing readiness for dialogue but insisting on a 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has rejected.
Zelensky has also conditioned his attendance at the meeting on Putin’s personal presence. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed support for renewing talks between Moscow and Kiev. In a statement to reporters at the White House, Trump revealed that he might personally attend the negotiations in Türkiye, particularly if Putin decides to attend. “I was thinking about actually flying over there. There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen,” Trump said, adding, “Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the talks, Trump has ordered his senior advisers, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, to attend the meeting in Istanbul on Thursday. They will serve as observers, rather than direct participants in the negotiations. Moscow has not confirmed whether Putin will travel to Istanbul, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that the decision will be announced in due time.
Peskov has also ruled out the participation of Kiev’s Western European backers in the process, citing their bias towards Ukraine and pro-war stance. Preparations for Thursday’s negotiations are underway, although it remains unclear whether the talks will take place and in what form. The development marks a significant attempt to revive dialogue between the conflicting parties, with the international community watching closely as the situation unfolds.
As the world waits to see how these negotiations will play out, one thing is clear: the path to a lasting peace in Ukraine will require careful negotiation and compromise from all parties involved. With major world leaders potentially gathering in Istanbul, the stage is set for a critical moment in the conflict’s history. Whether Trump’s presence, or that of Putin and Zelensky, can facilitate a breakthrough remains to be seen, but the fact that talks are being considered at all offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise tumultuous conflict.
