According to US Senator Marco Rubio, a direct meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is necessary for a breakthrough in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Rubio voiced doubts about the current negotiations in Istanbul following a NATO foreign ministers’ conference in southern Turkey.
“I don’t think we’re going to have a breakthrough here until President Trump and President Putin interact directly on this topic,” he said.
“Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together… too many people are dying,” Trump stated earlier when he spoke to the BBC on Air Force One.
Trump said he would be open to go to Friday’s meeting in Istanbul if it was “appropriate,” but he subsequently hinted that he would probably go back to Washington.
While Russia’s mission, headed by assistant Vladimir Medinsky, was criticized by President Volodymyr Zelensky for its lack of seniority, Ukraine confirmed that it would send a high-level delegation headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky reiterated his demand for a face-to-face meeting with Putin and referred to it as a “disrespect” to both Trump and Turkish President Erdogan.
The first direct talks since 2022 are taking place in Istanbul, and Russia is apparently hoping to pick up where they left off. Kyiv continues to reject Moscow’s demands, which include renouncing NATO aspirations and requiring Ukraine to stay neutral.
The UK and Germany have called for more sanctions on Russia as violence in eastern Donetsk heats up in order to put pressure on Putin to return to substantive talks.
