Donald Trump is open to the possibility of personally traveling to Istanbul to participate in negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict
This was stated by the former U.S. president during his stay in Qatar, where he was concluding his Middle East tour. In his speech, Trump noted that he is ready to visit the Turkish capital on Friday, May 16, and thus take part in diplomatic discussions scheduled to take place in Istanbul. Trump’s decision, announced amid widespread rumors and speculation within the global political community, is based on his assertion that a personal visit could activate the negotiation process between the conflicting sides. "I said that if I don’t go, then Putin won’t come, and my point is supported by that. So, if necessary, I can go to Istanbul on Friday," he said. It is important to add that these words were spoken in the presence of journalists around his departure from Doha, where he was wrapping up his trip to the Middle East. The discussion about Trump’s potential participation in future diplomatic forums arose amid the information wave surrounding the planned negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. Currently, it is known that, according to preliminary reports, the Russian side late on the evening of May 14 approved the composition of the delegation for participating in the agreed talks in Istanbul, scheduled for May 15. However, the list published by the Kremlin does not include the name of Vladimir Putin, the direct leader of Russia. This has sparked additional speculation regarding the nature and prospects of the negotiation process. It was previously reported that both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin might not plan to attend Turkey. According to sources, the former American leader was informed about the possible visit but did not confirm his participation. While Trump publicly “considered” a trip to Istanbul, political circles circulated assumptions that his involvement, like that of Putin, could be unpredictable. An additional aspect of the situation is that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly planning to meet with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on May 15. This meeting could become an important diplomatic platform for discussing the front-line situation and exploring paths to peace. It was anticipated that Zelensky, who had previously expressed his readiness to visit Istanbul specifically when Putin arrives in the city, wishes his trip to be synchronized with the Russian president’s visit. Ultimately, the current situation remains tense and filled with uncertainty. At the same time, the potential visit of Trump to Istanbul adds further intrigue to the already complex diplomatic process underway to find pathways out of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and to address the issues surrounding Russian-Ukrainian relations. It is worth waiting for further official statements and developments, as the coming days could determine the course of negotiations and their success.