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Trump envoys to visit Turkey for potential Russia-Ukraine peace talks

13 May, 2025 Tuesday
16:28

Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg head to Turkey for peace talks, with uncertainty over Russian participation in the discussions

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Reuters reported the information.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, are set to travel to Istanbul this Thursday for potential discussions aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to three sources familiar with the plans.

However, a senior U.S. official noted that it remains uncertain whether representatives from the Russian government will attend the talks. The White House, State Department, National Security Council, and Witkoff’s spokesperson have yet to respond to inquiries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will only participate in the talks if Russian President Vladimir Putin is also present, a Ukrainian aide said, putting pressure on Moscow to demonstrate its commitment to peace. Moscow has not yet confirmed whether Putin will attend, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that an announcement would be made when the president deems it necessary.

Trump has indicated that he would travel to Istanbul for the talks if required, as he is currently in the Middle East for discussions with officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

Over the weekend, U.S. officials encouraged Zelenskyy to publicly commit to meeting Putin in Istanbul, signaling his willingness to negotiate for peace. Washington hopes that Russia will agree to a 30-day ceasefire covering land, air, sea, and critical infrastructure, a deal that Ukraine has already agreed to. European leaders also support the ceasefire proposal.

If Russia rejects the ceasefire, the European Union has warned of additional sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, according to senior U.S. and European officials.

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