Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his support for Donald Trump’s proposal for “a full and unconditional ceasefire,” envisioning it as a lasting solution that could pave the way for diplomatic discussions.
Zelenskyy is set to travel to Türkiye, where he has extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for direct peace talks. He also hopes that Trump will be present at these crucial discussions.
“All of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Türkiye. This is the right idea. We can change a lot,”
Zelenskyy remarked, emphasizing the significance of the meeting. He expressed his hope that the Russian delegation would not shy away from the negotiations while awaiting a formal response from the Kremlin.
Putin’s response and Trump’s optimism
Vladimir Putin has suggested the idea of “direct talks” to take place in Istanbul on Thursday but has yet to respond to Zelenskyy’s invitation. Meanwhile, Trump has remained optimistic about the potential for both presidents to attend the summit, indicating that it could lead to positive outcomes.
“I think we may see a good result from Thursday’s meeting in Türkiye between Russia and Ukraine,”
Trump stated during a press conference on Monday. He mentioned that he is contemplating traveling to Türkiye himself, although he is uncertain of his availability due to a packed schedule of meetings.
Trump’s regional tour and the significance of the meeting
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Qatar, before concluding his three-day trip in the United Arab Emirates on May 15, coinciding with the anticipated meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
On Monday, Trump reiterated his strong advocacy for the Istanbul meeting, deeming it a crucial opportunity to halt ongoing hostilities. He urged, “Thursday’s meeting between Russia and Ukraine is very important. I strongly pushed for it to happen. I think good things can come from it. We have to stop the bloodshed — it’s horrible, a bloodbath.”