US president Donald Trump expects “good results” from potential upcoming direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, hinting he may also participate in the negotiations.
Trump, while addressing the reporters in the white house, called the potential talks a “very important” event.
The resumption of direct negotiations between the countries was proposed by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Sunday and could take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Thursday.
“I think you may have a good result at the Thursday meeting in Türkiye between Russia and Ukraine. I believe the two leaders are going to be there.
I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I’m going to be on Thursday; I’ve got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there,” Trump said.
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The suggestion of holding talks in Türkiye by the US president was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the step as “the right idea” and reiterated his claim that he will be waiting personally in Turkey to meet Putin in person.
Thus far, Moscow has remained silent on the prospect of the Russian leader travelling to Türkiye for negotiations.
In proposing a return to direct negotiations, the Russian president reiterated Moscow’s commitment to resolving the crisis.
The settlement process must start with talks, Putin stressed, and the negotiations could ultimately lead to “some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire.”
“We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. They aim to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-lasting peace from a historical perspective,” the president said.
The offer has received a mixed response from Kyiv and its backers, who continue to insist on their demand that any peace talks must be preceded by the establishment of at least a 30-day ceasefire.
Yet Putin's offer was backed by Trump, who urged Ukraine to “immediately” accept it.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the peace talks and called the “ceasefire negotiations a turning point in the conflict.”
However, the Turkish presidency sent a somewhat ambiguous message on the matter on Monday, simultaneously stating that it was an opportunity that should not be missed but also that a ceasefire would have created the “necessary environment” for the negotiations.
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