Former President Trump asserts that the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul are destined to fail without his direct involvement and personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At a Glance
- Trump stated “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together” regarding Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations
- Putin skipped high-stakes peace talks in Istanbul, which Trump claimed was because he wasn’t attending
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio is representing the U.S. at the Istanbul talks, emphasizing “there is no military solution”
- Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Turkey but refused to meet with any Russian representative other than Putin
- The talks aim to establish a cease-fire to end the nearly three-year conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Trump Claims Personal Role Essential for Peace
Former President Donald Trump made it clear that he believes Russia-Ukraine peace talks cannot succeed without his direct involvement. Speaking to reporters during his Middle East tour, Trump was blunt about the necessity of his participation: “Look, nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together. Okay?” This statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin opted not to attend the high-stakes peace negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, which began this week with delegations from both Russia and Ukraine present.
Trump indicated that he had anticipated Putin’s absence, explaining, “I actually said, why would he go if I’m not going? Because I wasn’t going to go. I wasn’t planning to. I would go, but I wasn’t planning to go. And I said, I don’t think he’s going to go if I don’t go. And that turned out to be right.” This suggests Trump believes Putin was specifically waiting for his American counterpart to be present before engaging in substantive peace discussions.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 UKRAINE TO PUTIN: SHOW UP IN TURKEY OR STAY OUT OF THE CONVERSATION
Ukraine is holding off on deciding its next move in peace talks until one key detail is clear: Will Putin actually show up?
Zelensky has challenged him to attend in person.
If Putin does, it would be… https://t.co/bwMqGd0mtT pic.twitter.com/28ovSIobOh
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 14, 2025
Istanbul Talks Proceed Without Key Leaders
Despite the absence of both Putin and Trump, peace talks have opened in Istanbul with delegations from both Russia and Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is representing American interests at the negotiations, which mark the first formal talks between the warring nations since the early weeks of Russia’s 2022 invasion. The talks are symbolically taking place in Istanbul, the site of the Istanbul CommuniquĂ© in March 2022, which had previously outlined a framework for a potential peace agreement.
“I will say this, and I’ll repeat it, that there is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing the U.S. position on the necessity of diplomatic resolution.
The Russian delegation is led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, accompanied by other senior officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did travel to Turkey and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but maintained he would not meet with any Russian representative other than Putin himself. “I’m here. I think this is a clear message,” Zelensky stated, highlighting his commitment to peace while implicitly criticizing Putin’s absence.
Qatar is presenting Trump with a Boeing 747-8 worth $400 million. Officially, it is for the “presidential library,” but in reality, it is his personal Air Force One. And all this on the eve of a tour of the Middle East, from which Israel has been demonstratively excluded.
The… pic.twitter.com/h2gl079RDV
— Denis Danilov (@DenisDanilovL) May 13, 2025
Trump’s Middle East Focus and Peace Prospects
Trump’s comments on the Russia-Ukraine negotiations came during his significant Middle East tour, where he claimed to have secured “$4 trillion in investments.” When asked if he was disappointed about Putin sending only a delegation, Trump deflected, saying, “Why would I be disappointed? We just took in $4 trillion and he says ‘are you disappointed about a delegation?'” The former president expressed frustration that media coverage focused on the Russia-Ukraine situation rather than his claimed economic accomplishments during the trip.
“‘Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together, okay?’ Trump said, after it became clear the Russian leader would not attend the talks in Istanbul.”
Despite low expectations for an immediate breakthrough in the Istanbul negotiations, both sides have publicly expressed commitment to the peace process. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to peace efforts, while Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated Moscow’s readiness for serious negotiations. The talks aim to establish a 30-day ceasefire that could potentially lead to more comprehensive peace discussions, though analysts note that both sides appear to be maneuvering to avoid blame for potential failure.
