Trump says “nothing will happen” in Ukraine peace talks until he meets Vladimir Putin | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey
• President Zelensky's conditions for participation
• President Putin's absence and delegation level
• Donald Trump's perspective on the situation and potential involvement
• US expectations for the talks
• Direct dialogue between Trump and Putin as a key to progress

1. The Impending Peace Talks and Initial Uncertainty

• The US has low expectations for the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia scheduled to be held in Turkey.
• The talks are meant to be the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kiev in 3 years.
• The exact timing and even the certainty of the talks commencing are initially unclear.

2. Zelensky's Position and Accusations

• President Zelensky is in Turkey and affirms his readiness for peace talks.
• He accuses President Putin of not being serious about the peace process.
• Zelensky states he will only participate if Vladimir Putin also attends.
• He expresses pessimism, stating that Russia doesn't feel it needs to end the war.

3. Russia's Delegation and Putin's Absence

• President Putin has sent a comparatively low-level delegation to Istanbul.
• Supporters of Putin argue that he proposed direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
• Donald Trump notes that Putin's absence is not surprising, suggesting Putin expected Trump to be present as well.

4. Trump's Perspective and Potential Involvement

• Donald Trump believes that progress is contingent on a meeting between him and Vladimir Putin.
• He suggests he could travel to Istanbul if a deal was on the table.
• Trump states that Putin wasn't going to attend the talks if he (Trump) wasn't there.
• He later indicates he never believed Putin would attend unless Trump was also present.

5. Kremlin's Response and Conditions

• When asked if Putin might still fly in, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Pescov states they need to see how the talks go first.
• Pescov says everyone will do their best to secure the best result.
• The head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul claims Moscow seeks lasting peace.

6. US Skepticism and the Need for Trump-Putin Dialogue

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attending a NATO meeting in Turkey, expresses low expectations for the talks.
• Rubio believes the only way to achieve a breakthrough is through direct talks between President Trump and President Putin.

7. Trump's Travel Plans and Unlikelihood of Istanbul Visit

• Despite being relatively close to Turkey in Abu Dhabi, Trump doesn't appear to have plans to visit Istanbul.
• He states he will be taking off for "destinations unknown" but indicates he will likely return to Washington DC.
• Trump reiterates his willingness to talk to Putin about Ukraine but suggests it won't happen this week.

8. Notable Quotes

• President Zelensky: "I'm here I think this is very clear message."
• Donald Trump: "Look nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together."
• Marco Rubio: "We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. And frankly at this point I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and and and President Putin."

9. Synthesis/Conclusion

The peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey are met with skepticism from both the US and President Zelensky. The absence of President Putin and the US's low expectations suggest a lack of significant progress. Donald Trump's perspective emphasizes the necessity of direct dialogue between him and Putin for any real breakthrough to occur, but his immediate travel plans make his involvement in the current talks unlikely. The situation remains uncertain, with the possibility of future engagement hinging on the initial outcomes of the talks and the willingness of Trump and Putin to engage directly.