President Donald Trump announced Monday that he may attend a high-stakes peace meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey, as both leaders prepare for direct talks aimed at ending the conflict. Trump emphasized the urgency of diplomatic engagement, saying he would fly to the meeting if it would help end what he called a “bloodbath.”
“They couldn’t get a meeting because one said ceasefire, one said no ceasefire… I said, ‘Just go to the meeting,'” Trump told reporters. “If I thought it would be helpful… I would fly there.”
The potential meeting in Turkey, scheduled for Thursday, was confirmed after Trump urged both sides to negotiate despite ongoing disagreements over a proposed 30-day ceasefire. European Union officials had demanded the ceasefire over the weekend, threatening massive sanctions on Russia if it refused. Putin dismissed the ceasefire demand and instead proposed the face-to-face negotiations with Zelensky.
Trump doubled down on his position in a Sunday post on Truth Social, writing, “Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY… HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!” He also said that even if a deal isn’t reached, “leaders will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly.”
Following Trump’s public push, Zelensky responded positively, saying he supports Trump’s idea of a full and unconditional ceasefire and that he is ready to meet Putin. “I will be in Türkiye. I hope that the Russians will not evade the meeting,” Zelensky stated. Within an hour of Trump’s post, Zelensky confirmed he would attend and would be waiting for Putin in Turkey.
The development marks a significant shift in the stalled peace process. Trump’s pressure, coupled with mounting international calls for de-escalation, appears to have brought both leaders to the table. Whether the meeting leads to a concrete resolution remains to be seen, but it marks the first confirmed direct talks between Zelensky and Putin since the early months of the conflict.
