President Donald Trump said Monday he is “thinking” about traveling to Turkey for potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, though there has been no word from the Kremlin on whether President Vladimir Putin would attend.
The Istanbul meeting would mark the first direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials since the early phase of Moscow’s 2022 invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his participation, stating he had earlier expressed his wish for Trump to attend and is prepared for “direct and substantive negotiations with Putin.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his readiness to host the talks and urged both sides to seize the “window of opportunity” to pursue a peace agreement.
Since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands have died and millions have been displaced. Russian forces currently occupy roughly one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Putin proposed direct talks in response to a 30-day ceasefire initiative from Kyiv and its allies over the weekend. Ukraine accused Russia on Monday of “completely ignoring” the ceasefire proposal.
Trump earlier told reporters he would consider attending the talks if he believed it would help the situation. “I was thinking about actually flying over there. There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen,” he said before departing for a Middle East trip.
Following Trump’s public call for negotiations on Sunday, Zelenskyy reiterated his willingness to meet Putin in Turkey “personally.” “We are ready for direct talks with Putin,” he confirmed again Monday after speaking with Erdogan.
However, when asked about Russian participation, the Kremlin offered no details. “We are focused on a serious search for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, without elaborating.
Peskov also criticized European countries for pressuring Russia to accept the 30-day ceasefire. “The language of ultimatums is unacceptable to Russia. It is not appropriate. You cannot talk to Russia in such a language,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes overnight hit eastern Ukraine, killing one person and injuring six others, while damaging homes and railway infrastructure, according to local officials.
In the eastern town of Bilytske, residents expressed doubt but hope about the prospect of peace. “We don’t really believe, of course, but we hope,” said a woman named Alla. Standing nearby, 39-year-old Alyona remarked, “How long can it last? It’s been three years already.”
Putin has stated that any talks should address the “root causes” of the conflict and has not ruled out a potential ceasefire arising from the Istanbul discussions.
Moscow typically defines the “root causes” as grievances with Kyiv and the West, including its demands to “de-Nazify” and de-militarize Ukraine, protect Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine, and halt NATO expansion. These claims have been firmly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies as mere pretexts for territorial aggression.
Russian and Ukrainian officials last met in Istanbul in March 2022, but no agreement was reached. Since then, contact has been limited, primarily focused on humanitarian matters like prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.
European leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz have expressed cautious support for the renewed dialogue but emphasized the need for Russia to agree to a ceasefire first.
Germany has warned that Moscow must commit to the 30-day ceasefire by the end of Monday or face potential new sanctions. China, a key Russian ally, also called for a “binding peace agreement” acceptable to all sides.
