End the bloodbath now!:Trump demands Ukraine meet Putin in Istanbul
US President Donald Trump Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for direct negotiations in Istanbul this Thursday, in what could be a pivotal moment in the push to end the war.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said, 'President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.'
'At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who's too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won [not even close!] without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!' he said.
Putin has proposed holding direct talks 'without preconditions' on May 15 in Istanbul, saying the aim is to reach 'lasting peace' and to 'eliminate the root causes' of the conflict, now entering its third year.
While Zelenskyy welcomed the shift in tone from Moscow, he emphasised that any negotiations must begin with a ceasefire. The Kremlin, however, appears reluctant to commit to a ceasefire before talks. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin is committed to finding a peaceful resolution but warned that military operations would continue in the absence of serious diplomatic engagement.
Peskov accused Kyiv of avoiding negotiations and downplayed the notion of Western-backed peacekeepers, calling it unacceptable. He described Putin's offer for direct talks as 'very serious', aimed at addressing 'the root causes of the conflict,' and insisted it 'confirms a real intention to find a peaceful solution.'
For months, Ukraine and its allies have argued that any Russian offer must first be tested through a genuine ceasefire. They've tried to persuade the Trump administration that Moscow's peace overtures are often used as delay tactics or diplomatic cover while the war grinds on.
But with Putin's early-morning televised address on Sunday announcing the May 15 meeting, analysts believe Russia is trying to flip the narrative, and the pressure, back onto Kyiv.
'Putin's proposal puts the ball in Ukraine's court,' said Sergey Radchenko, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Speaking to CNN, Radchenko warned that Zelenskyy could face mounting pressure to accept the invitation.
'Why? Because otherwise, he'll have to deal with Trump, who's going to say, 'Why are you undermining my peace initiative here? Why can't you just talk?,'' Radchenko said.
So far, there's no indication that Ukraine will shift its position: ceasefire first, then negotiations. But with Monday's ceasefire deadline looming, and Trump publicly staking his peace credentials on the Istanbul meeting, Zelenskyy may soon face one of the war's most delicate diplomatic choices.
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