President Trump Offers to Join Putin and Zelensky at Istanbul Peace Summit: ‘Save a Lot of Lives’
Amid escalating tensions and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is once again positioning the United States as a global leader for peace, signaling he may personally attend high-stakes negotiations in Istanbul between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In what could be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the Russian invasion began in 2022, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he is open to joining the talks if it helps bring about a ceasefire.
“He’d like me to be there, and that’s a possibility,” Trump said, referring to Putin. “I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out.”
The three-way meeting would mark the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and Zelensky since 2019, and the first direct talks since full-scale war broke out. The Kremlin has confirmed it will send a delegation, but has not announced whether Putin himself will attend.
Trump is currently on a diplomatic tour across the Middle East, with stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where he is advancing U.S. investment and security interests. Despite a packed schedule, the President made it clear he is willing to pivot for peace.
“We have a very full situation. Now, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it to save a lot of lives and come back,” he said, according to a Washington Post pool report.
Trump confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be present at the Istanbul talks on Thursday.
“Marco is going, and Marco has been very effective,” Trump added.
According to reports, Putin first floated the idea of Istanbul talks after rejecting a 30-day ceasefire demand from European leaders. Zelensky, initially unwilling to participate without a firm Russian commitment, shifted course after Trump personally urged him to make the trip and test whether Putin was sincere about peace.
Zelensky is firm that he will not meet with any Russian official other than Putin. His goal is clear: secure tangible gains or walk away. Speaking to European media outlets, the Ukrainian leader said:
“If Putin doesn’t come, it will look like a complete defeat for him. If I meet him, we must come away with a political victory: a ceasefire, an all-for-all prisoner exchange, or something along those lines.”
He also stressed the importance of U.S. mediation, pointing to the deep distrust between the two warring nations.
“Russians will not trust us, and we will not trust them. We must comprehend the purpose of my meeting with Putin. He and I can’t agree on everything right now—that’s impossible. But we must find a way to stop the conflict.”
Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s survival is at stake if the war drags on:
“No one knows how long this will persist. But not in ten years. Ukraine would not survive,” he said. “It’s costly for everyone, not only for our friends, but also for our enemies.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow’s delegation will be determined once Putin gives final instructions, adding uncertainty to whether the Russian leader will face Zelensky across the table.
If the summit proceeds with Trump present, it would underscore his unique ability to draw even the most hardened adversaries to the negotiating table — something few Western leaders have managed.
With President Trump’s leadership back on the global stage, the world may finally have a chance at stopping a devastating war that has shaken Europe and strained international alliances. Whether Putin shows up or not, it’s clear Trump’s influence is once again reshaping the course of world events.