Trump Offers to Join Ukraine-Russia Talks Amid Doubts from European Allies
On May 12, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised many by expressing interest in joining the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, which are set to take place in Istanbul on May 15. Before traveling to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, Trump commented, "Don't underestimate Thursday in Turkey," hinting at his potential participation in negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During a conference call with European diplomats, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and foreign ministers from France, Germany, Poland, Britain, and Ukraine, the leaders discussed strategies for a ceasefire and pathways to peace in Ukraine. However, skepticism prevailed among Ukraine's allies regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's sincerity in pursuing peace. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, "If there is no ceasefire, there cannot be talks under fire... it takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war, and we see that Russia clearly wants war."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, demonstrating his willingness to engage, expressed readiness to meet with Putin in Istanbul. He also urged for a full and unconditional ceasefire, reiterating that this could significantly enhance prospects for peace. "Ukraine has long proposed this; our partners are proposing it, and the whole world is calling for it," Zelenskyy noted, emphasizing the urgency for a clear response from Russia.
As discussions ensued, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to address Moscow's proposal for direct talks with Kyiv. However, it remained uncertain who from the Russian side would participate in the discussions, marking the first such talks since the full-scale war began in February 2022.
Political commentator Oleg Saakian remarked on the prevailing distrust towards Putin, suggesting that the recent unfolding of events appears to be a tactic to prepare for a new stage in the war while strengthening Russia’s position through engagements with allies, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Saakian described the negotiation process as "staged for one spectator, Trump," indicating that it serves to expose Putin's unreliability in business dealings. He also pointed to the need for Europe and the U.S. to consider imposing sanctions on Russia as central to shaping the future dialogue.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council in Russia, expressed somewhat hopeful sentiments, suggesting that the upcoming talks could achieve further progress than previous discussions if Ukraine approached them without ultimatums, signaling a readiness to find common ground.
As the world watches the developments in Istanbul, many remain cautious about the actual potential for resolution and genuine dialogue between the conflicting parties.
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