Key Points Summary: Trump Ukraine Peace Talks
- Trump hints at surprise visit to Turkey for Ukraine peace summit
- Putin and Zelenskyy expected to meet in Istanbul on Thursday
- Trump optimistic about potential breakthrough in war talks
- Erdogan praised as host amid rising diplomatic pressure
- Trumpโs Mideast tour includes stops in Qatar and the UAE
- Talks come amid rising death toll and global demand for peace
- Peace detour may reshape Trumpโs foreign policy legacy
Donald Trump might crash the most anticipated war summit of the year.
The former president said Monday heโs considering a last-minute flight to Turkey for Thursdayโs high-stakes talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump, 78, is currently on a Middle East tour with stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But he told reporters heโs mulling a detour to Istanbul โ if he thinks his presence could help.
Trump Could Join Peace Summit in Istanbul
โI was thinking about flying over. I donโt know where Iโll be on Thursday,โ Trump said. โIโve got so many meetingsโฆ Thereโs a possibility there I guess, if I think things can happen.โ
The expected face-to-face between Putin and Zelenskyy is being closely watched worldwide. It would be the first time the two men meet since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Trump, never shy to insert himself into global headlines, said he sees โthe potential for a good meeting.โ
Erdogan Gets Trumpโs Seal of Approval
In typical Trump fashion, he couldnโt resist praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
โDonโt underestimate Thursday in Turkey. President Erdogan is a great host,โ Trump said, hinting that Turkeyโs neutrality could help bridge the diplomatic divide.
Sources close to Trump say his team has been in contact with officials in Ankara to gauge whether a surprise visit could add weight to the negotiations.
Pressure Mounts to End the War
The backdrop for the potential summit is deadly serious. The war in Ukraine has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions. Europe faces ongoing instability, and humanitarian groups are pleading for an end to the bloodshed.
The Istanbul summit is viewed by many analysts as a last-ditch effort before the conflict escalates further. Zelenskyy has faced criticism at home for even considering direct talks, but aides say the Ukrainian leader is desperate to end the war โ if it can be done without surrendering land.
Trumpโs Foreign Policy Gamble
If Trump does show up, it would mark a dramatic return to the global stage and could reshape how history views his foreign policy.
During his first term, Trump often praised strongmen like Putin, but he also armed Ukraine with lethal weapons and criticized NATOโs spending shortfalls.
Now, with an election looming, Trump may see a successful peace detour as a chance to cast himself as a global dealmaker once again.
Whatโs Next
U.S. officials have not confirmed whether Trump will officially join the peace talks. However, White House aides say they are watching the situation closely.
โWeโre aware of his travel plans,โ said one senior official. โItโs an active situation.โ
International diplomats, meanwhile, remain skeptical of Trumpโs involvement.
โItโs hard to know if heโll help or distract,โ said one European envoy. โBut if it gets the parties to agree on a ceasefire, weโll take it.โ
The Bottom Line
Whether Trump lands in Turkey or not, all eyes are on Istanbul this Thursday. Peace talks between Putin and Zelenskyy could shift the course of the warโand Trump is once again in the middle of it all.
