Ukraine Opens Possibility for Donald Trump’s Participation in Promising Meeting Between Zelensky and Putin
In the context of prolonged diplomatic efforts and the search for ways to de-escalate the conflict, the Ukrainian authorities are demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to involve new, high-profile formats in future negotiations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga made an important statement on Friday, announcing that Ukraine has joined the possibility of holding talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kremlin Head Vladimir Putin in an expanded format, including the participation of former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Sybiga, the Ukrainian side hopes that such a meeting could serve as a step toward resolving the conflict. The minister emphasized that Ukraine does not oppose Trump's presence in this format, believing that his role could facilitate finding compromises and add legitimacy to the process. "We very much want former U.S. President Donald Trump to join this meeting, as his experience and influence could become valuable resources for achieving peaceful agreements," he added. At the same time, Andrii Sybiga stressed that the foundation of any potential negotiations should remain the European diplomatic platform. "In our position, there must necessarily be Europe's presence at the negotiation table, because Europe is constantly monitoring the situation and holds significant diplomatic weight," he noted. As "European Pravda" reports, citing the "Ukrinform" agency, during discussions with journalists, the minister emphasized that, summarizing the negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on May 16, an agreement was reached on prisoner exchanges and the development of a shared vision for an unconditional ceasefire. However, according to Sybiga, one of the main directions of work remains the organization of a high-level meeting. It is important to highlight that the Ukrainian side insists that any future negotiations should take place in a broad format involving several states and international organizations. Meanwhile, relevant Ukrainian institutions and diplomatic ministries are actively preparing for different scenarios and negotiation platforms. Regarding the possible participation of Trump, he is mentioned as a potential participant or mediator in the process, which could help invigorate global diplomacy and create additional pressure on the parties to reach a compromise. However, it should be emphasized that no official confirmation of this information has been received from the United States so far. Sources from the Kremlin report that there are no hurried plans to hold a meeting between Putin and Zelensky at this time. According to Bloomberg, the Russian president is currently not inclined to visit the Vatican or any other international center for negotiations. This may indicate ongoing high tensions and the need for careful diplomatic preparation for future meetings. Overall, the situation remains tense, but Ukrainian diplomacy, with new ideas and a flexible approach, is striving to preserve chances for resolution. The interest in the participation of the former U.S. president, which could introduce new dynamics to the negotiation process, indicates Kyiv's desire to do everything possible to achieve peace and stability in the region. Meanwhile, the international community is closely watching the developments, trying to create the most favorable conditions for a diplomatic exit from the deep crisis.