US President Donald Trump casts doubt on Russia-Ukraine peace prospects despite Zelensky’s agreement to face-to-face meeting with Putin in Turkey.
Washington/Kyiv | May 12, 2025:
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he is “starting to doubt” whether Ukraine will be able to reach a peace deal with Russia, even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he would meet Vladimir Putin in Turkey later this week. The highly anticipated summit, scheduled for Thursday, would mark the first direct engagement between the two leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin. President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet… to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.”
He added that the Turkey summit could help determine whether any peace agreement is still possible.
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Zelensky Agrees to Talks After Trump’s Public Push
Following Trump’s social media appeal urging Ukraine to “immediately” accept Putin’s offer, Zelensky announced, “I will be waiting for Putin in Turkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”
This rapid development followed mounting international pressure on Russia to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, with European allies threatening fresh sanctions.
Putin, in a late-night address, did not explicitly acknowledge the ultimatum but extended an invitation for direct negotiations in Istanbul. It is the first such overture from Moscow in over two years.
International Stakes Remain High
Despite Trump’s optimism, Ukraine’s Western allies remain skeptical. “There should be no further talks until Russia agrees to a ceasefire,” a European diplomat said. However, Trump’s intervention appeared to soften that stance, at least temporarily.
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