U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed the likelihood of personally visiting Turkey on May 16, if the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine progresses positively. According to Trump, he is considering the possibility of the trip if significant progress is achieved, emphasizing that he has been contemplating this idea for a long time.
This is reported by Kyiv24
«I have thought about going, but it’s very difficult… If something happens, I would go on Friday, if that would be appropriate,» he stated during a business breakfast in Doha, which took place during his visit to the Gulf countries. This information was confirmed by Reuters.
«But right now we have people who are negotiating, I just hope that Russia and Ukraine can do something. This needs to stop,» Trump added, expressing hope for a swift resolution to the conflict.
Negotiations and Political Moves in the Region
Trump’s statement came against the backdrop of a Russian delegation’s visit to Istanbul for negotiations without the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. At this time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had previously expressed readiness to meet with Putin in Istanbul, plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on May 15. After this meeting, he intends to determine the next steps in negotiations with Russia, according to AFP, citing an unnamed senior official.
On May 10, Ukraine, with the support of European allies, demanded that Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire. In response, President Vladimir Putin proposed direct negotiations in Turkey on May 15, without specifying the composition of the delegations. Zelensky expressed his intention to personally attend the negotiations, although the Kremlin had not confirmed Putin’s participation earlier. On May 14, the composition of the delegation was announced, which did not include the Russian leader.
Before departing from Washington to Riyadh, Trump stated on May 12 that he is considering flying to Istanbul to participate in the negotiations. At the same time, he noted that he has a busy travel schedule to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE this week.