Donald Trump said on Monday that he could go to Turkey on Thursday for possible discussions between Ukraine and Russia, if he considered that it would be useful.
“I plan to go there by plane. I don’t know where I will be on Thursday. I have so many meetings, but I thought of flying to go there. There is a possibility, I suppose, if I think that things can happen, “the American president said to journalists at the White House shortly before his departure for a tour in the Middle East.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed “direct” and “without prerequisite” negotiations on Sunday between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, pushing for such discussions any possibility of establishing the 30-day cease-fire required by the kyiv allies.
Calling Moscow to accept a truce “to provide a necessary basis for diplomacy”, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky assured that he would “wait” in Turkey his Russian counterpart on Thursday, who did not respond.
“I think Thursday’s meeting in Türkiye between Russia and Ukraine could lead to a good result, and I think the two leaders should be present,” said Donald Trump.
Asked to know if he intended to take new sanctions against Russia if it refused the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the kyiv allies, a threat brandished by the latter, the tenant of the White House replied: “I have the feeling that they will agree. Really. I feel like it. “
