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U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering flying to Turkey on Thursday to attend potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, signaling possible U.S. involvement in what could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing war, AFP reports.
“I was thinking about actually flying over there. There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a trip to the Middle East.
Expressing cautious optimism, Trump added, “I think you may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine, and I believe the two leaders were going to be there.”
When asked whether he would impose sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin refuses to accept a proposed 30-day ceasefire, Trump said, “I have a feeling they’re going to agree. I do. I have a feeling.”
The prospect of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine—the first since the early stages of Russia’s 2022 invasion—has been broadly welcomed by the international community, including officials in Washington and across Europe.
Since the war began, tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
