Zelensky expressed hope for Trump’s participation in the Turkish meeting, highlighting the importance of his presence for Ukraine
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly stated that he sincerely hopes former U.S. President Donald Trump will be able to join the international meeting of Ukrainian and Russian representatives scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul, Turkey. This was conveyed in an official statement released through the Ukrainian head of state’s press service. Noting that Trump’s presence holds special significance for Ukraine, Zelensky emphasized: “I just heard Donald Trump’s statement. These are very important words, and I personally support his idea of a complete, unequivocal, and longer-lasting ceasefire — one that would lay the foundation for further diplomatic resolution. Ukraine is seeking peace, and we are ready to do everything possible to establish silence to create favorable conditions for negotiations.” The president also expressed his readiness to meet in Turkey and hope that Russia would not evade participation in this important event. He remarked: “All of us in Ukraine would very much like President Trump to be with us at this meeting in Istanbul. It’s the right idea that can change the situation for the better. President Erdoğan undoubtedly has the potential to hold a high-level meeting, and I sincerely thank everyone making efforts to make this happen.” Background to this diplomatic development The escalation of the situation around Ukraine preceded this diplomatic initiative. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not comment on the proposal for a short-term 30-day pause in hostilities, although he confirmed his readiness for direct talks with Ukrainian leadership in Istanbul on May 15. At the same time, he stressed that he does not intend to agree to a ceasefire for 30 days as proposed by Ukraine, but remains open to direct negotiations with Ukrainian authorities on Thursday, May 15, in the Turkish city. Sources report that Donald Trump, considering this situation and despite Russia’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire, expressed a desire to escalate to direct negotiations with the Russian leadership. He urged Ukraine to agree to these talks as soon as possible and emphasized the need for concrete actions from Kyiv to facilitate constructive dialogue. It was noted that Trump is even willing to personally travel to Istanbul for the negotiations if it would help achieve a quick resolution and peace. Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized: “I am prepared to personally meet with Vladimir Putin in Istanbul to discuss all important issues and find a way out of the crisis.” He believes that Trump’s participation in these negotiations could add extra weight and promote faster progress. The former U.S. president also expressed on Monday his confidence that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have high potential to be fruitful and, according to him, is ready to come to Istanbul if such a trip would contribute to achieving peace. Thus, the situation around the possible Istanbul meeting at the diplomatic level is becoming increasingly tense and significant for further conflict resolution. The future course of the Ukraine-Russia confrontation and the prospects for achieving long-awaited peace depend on the behavior of the parties, their willingness to compromise, and the presence of key international players.