U.S. President Donald Trump has said that no significant progress in the Ukraine peace talks is possible without a direct meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He made the remark on Thursday while traveling from Qatar to the United Arab Emirates.
A BBC journalist aboard Air Force One asked Trump whether he was disappointed about Russia sending a delegation to Turkey. Trump replied,
“Look, nothing will happen until Putin and I sit together, alright?”
He added,
“Clearly, he wasn’t supposed to be there. He showed interest, assuming I would also attend. If I wasn’t going, he wasn’t either. Like it or not, I believe nothing will happen unless we sit together. But we must solve this, because many people are dying.”
Meanwhile, Turkish officials said delegations from the U.S., Russia, and Turkey arrived in Istanbul today. A meeting between the Russian and Turkish sides is expected but not yet confirmed.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several rounds of talks were held afterward, including in Turkey, but eventually stopped.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said today,
“If the sides align and trust is built, it will be a major step toward peace.”
He spoke after an informal NATO meeting in Antalya.
Fidan also mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“These visits show a real will for peace. There’s reason to be hopeful,” he added.
Earlier this week, Putin expressed readiness for a direct meeting with Zelensky. After initial hesitation, Zelensky also agreed.
Upon arriving at Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport, Zelensky made a brief statement, saying,
“I’m not officially aware of the level of Russia’s representation, but from what I’ve heard, it seems like a show.”
He confirmed Ukraine is in regular contact with the U.S. delegation regarding the talks.
Source : The Daily Prothom Alo
