Trump Considers Joining Istanbul Peace Summit Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
Former US President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to participate in a proposed peace summit in Istanbul with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This announcement comes amid continued hostilities and stalled ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Stalled Negotiations in Istanbul
Despite a recent meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul, talks failed to yield a ceasefire agreement. While a large-scale prisoner exchange was agreed upon, Russian officials rejected Ukraine's proposal of an unconditional halt to fighting.
Ukrainian delegate Sergiy Kyslytsya stated that the Russian side continued to deny the motion for an unconditional ceasefire, further complicating peace efforts.
Russian Ceasefire Conditions
Following the talks, Russian state agencies published a memorandum outlining its terms for a ceasefire, which include:
- Withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four Russian-annexed regions.
- Halt to Ukraine's military mobilization and cessation of Western arms deliveries.
- Freezing redeployment of Ukrainian forces and banning foreign military presence on Ukrainian soil.
- Ending martial law and conducting elections in Ukraine.
- Signing a comprehensive peace treaty recognizing Ukraine's neutrality, limiting armed forces, and recognizing Russian as an official language.
These demands have been previously rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies.
Trump's Potential Role and Turkish Mediation
The White House indicated that Trump's participation would depend on a serious commitment to peace from both conflict parties. US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the need for both Putin and Zelenskyy to come to the table together.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to mediate and invited Trump to join the potential trilateral summit. Erdoğan expressed hope to host the leaders in Istanbul or Ankara.
Exchange of Prisoners and Remains
The recent talks also resulted in agreements to:
- Exchange the remains of approximately 6,000 soldiers killed in action.
- Establish a commission for exchanging seriously injured troops.
Outlook on Peace Efforts
The prospect of a peace summit including Trump introduces a new dynamic into the stalled conflict resolution efforts. However, ongoing fighting and divergent conditions from both Russia and Ukraine continue to present substantial obstacles to achieving a ceasefire.
Any diplomatic breakthrough would require tangible commitments from all parties involved, underscoring the complexity of resolving this protracted conflict.