Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced full support for a direct peace meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15 and expressed hope that former U.S. President Donald Trump will also attend. Zelenskyy called Trump’s idea of a “full and unconditional ceasefire” a welcome step toward diplomacy and said Trump’s presence would help facilitate progress.
Zelenskyy stated, “All of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us,” underscoring the urgency of direct engagement to end the war. While Putin proposed the Istanbul meeting, he has not confirmed his participation. Trump said he is optimistic about the meeting’s outcome but is unsure if his schedule will allow him to attend, citing an ongoing Middle East tour through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, ending the same day as the proposed talks.
The meeting, if it happens, would mark a major moment in international diplomacy since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While Trump insists the Istanbul talks are a “critical opportunity,” he remains noncommittal about his attendance, saying, “There’s a possibility… if I think things can happen.”
Whether Putin will engage and whether Trump will show up remain the key uncertainties as hopes for peace cautiously rise.
Read Also: Skepticism and Fragile Hope as PKK Announces Disbandment After Decades of Conflict
Never Miss a Story: Join Our Newsletter
