Representatives of Kiev and Moscow are expected to hold direct talks in Türkiye for the first time since 2022
US President Donald Trump has said he expects positive developments from expected Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on Thursday. The two sides are preparing to hold their first direct negotiations since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to restart direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev in order to find a lasting settlement that would address its root causes. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, who had previously ruled out any talks with Moscow, also expressed his willingness to travel to Istanbul.
Kiev stated that the only official from Moscow that Zelensky would talk to is Putin. However, the Russian president has so far made no indication that he is planning to travel to the Turkish city.
Speaking during a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday, Trump said, “I think we’re having some pretty good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow and maybe Friday, frankly. But… we’ll see about that.”
While the US president suggested earlier this week that he could also attend the meeting between Ukrainian and Russian representatives on Thursday, he appeared to downplay that possibility while on board Air Force One en route to Qatar.
“Now tomorrow we’re all booked out, you understand that, we’re all set,” Trump told reporters.
Bloomberg has quoted anonymous Turkish officials as saying they were not expecting the US president to make an appearance at the talks, but were “not entirely ruling out” such a possibility.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed to reporters in Doha that he would travel to Istanbul on Friday alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to participate in discussions.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Trump described the upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks as “very important,” saying that he expected a “good result,” and that he believed both Zelensky and Putin would come to Istanbul.
