Karina Bovsunovska17:52, 14.05.25
Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff is not sure that Putin will show up for the talks.
US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said that he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Istanbul on Friday, May 16. Reuters correspondent Phil Stewart reported this .
At the same time, Witkoff added that he was not sure whether Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would be there.
Negotiations in Istanbul – what is known
As UNIAN reported, on May 11, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine should immediately agree to talks with Russia in Turkey.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to this call and stressed that he was ready for negotiations with Russia “in any format . “
“Our common view: an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire is needed for at least 30 days. We propose that it begin on Monday, May 12. We await a response from Russia. This proposal has been in effect since the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, when it was first made by the United States,” the head of state noted.
At the same time, The Washington Post reported that Russia will send a delegation to Istanbul , but Putin will not be there. According to journalists, Russia will be represented at the talks in Istanbul by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
In turn, Clash Report previously reported that the United States will be represented at the talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul by Trump’s special representatives Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.
(C)UNIAN 2025
Perhaps I am missing something but I don’t know why everyone thinks tomorrow will solve anything. Without the leader of the Occupiers to sign a ceasefire this will just be a luncheon and photo op in Istanbul.
Nothing will happen. If Trump wanted putler there, he could have said, I will be in Istanbul on the 15th, if you don’t show, you’ll be sanctioned.
Ironically Putin himself organized this face-to-face meeting. Chickening out will not do him any good.
I would rather not see Witless there. Nothing good or intelligent ever comes out of his stupid trap.