Putin and Trump Uncertain to Attend Ukraine Peace Talks Thursday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump remain unconfirmed for Thursday’s peace talks in Istanbul, despite mounting international pressure. Trump supports a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but Ukraine insists Putin must show up. The Kremlin has yet to announce who will represent Russia, stalling diplomatic progress.
Ukraine Talks Unclear Quick Looks
- Peace talks scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul remain in flux
- Putin proposed direct talks but hasn’t confirmed attendance
- Trump unsure if he’ll go; says Putin may follow his lead
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he’ll attend only if Putin does
- Trump pushing for 30-day ceasefire deal between warring nations
- Kremlin declines to disclose Russia’s official delegation
- U.S. to send Rubio, Witkoff, Kellogg as peace envoys
- Russia suggests Lavrov and Ushakov may attend
- Last Russia-Ukraine talks occurred in Istanbul, March 2022
- Trump threatens more sanctions if Russia blocks diplomacy
Deep Look: Putin, Trump Hesitate on Istanbul Peace Talks as Ukraine Awaits Clarity
MOSCOW — Plans for direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine remain murky as both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have yet to confirm their attendance at the scheduled meeting in Istanbul on Thursday, despite its potential to mark a diplomatic turning point in Europe’s largest war since WWII.
Putin, who proposed the Istanbul summit “without preconditions,” has not revealed whether he himself will attend or who would make up the Russian delegation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow would release details only upon instruction from the president.
Trump Says Talks Possible, But “Putin Might Not Come Unless I Do”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar, Trump said he was still undecided about joining the peace talks but speculated that Putin might only attend if he does.
“(Putin) would like me to be there, and that’s a possibility,” Trump said. “I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out.”
Trump has repeatedly pressed for a 30-day ceasefire agreement between the two nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to attend the talks — but only if Putin shows up in person, challenging the Russian leader “if he’s not afraid.”
Diplomatic Deadlock or Strategic Posturing?
While Russia confirmed a delegation would be present in Istanbul on May 15, the identity of those delegates remains undisclosed. Unconfirmed reports from both U.S. and Russian media suggest Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov could represent Moscow in lieu of Putin.
“The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation,” Peskov said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s response remains tethered to whether Putin shows his face.
“Everything will depend on whether Putin is scared of coming to Istanbul or not,” a senior Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters. “Based on his response, the Ukrainian leadership will decide on the next steps.”
Trump Names U.S. Delegation, Keeps Option to Attend
Even if Trump himself skips the meeting, the White House has confirmed a high-level American presence: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will attend and facilitate dialogue.
Trump, who has publicly expressed frustration with both Ukraine and Russia over delays in peace progress, said Wednesday he is “always considering” additional sanctions — including secondary financial restrictions — if he determines Moscow is intentionally obstructing negotiations.
First Direct Leader Talks Since 2019?
If Putin joins, it would be the first direct meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia since December 2019, and the first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The last major peace discussions took place in Istanbul over two years ago, with little success.
Analysts believe that the lack of clarity is part of a high-stakes game of political theater, with each side angling to demonstrate their commitment to peace — or to portray the other as intransigent.
Ceasefire Stakes High, But Time Short
Trump is eager to broker an immediate truce and restart diplomacy as part of his broader regional peace strategy. However, Putin has said that a ceasefire must be discussed in negotiations, rather than accepted in advance — a position that complicates the timing and outcomes of any potential Istanbul summit.
The difference underscores just how fragile the situation remains, even as military pressures and humanitarian concerns intensify across Ukraine.
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