Russia-Ukraine peace talks face challenges, scale back in Turkey
Efforts to restart direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are facing challenges as an American delegation leads negotiations in Turkey.
Efforts to restart direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are facing challenges as an American delegation leads negotiations in Turkey.
Efforts to restart direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are facing challenges as an American delegation leads negotiations in Turkey.
Talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war are facing challenges, as plans for direct discussions between the countries' leaders, including potentially President Donald Trump, have scaled back.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are leading the American delegation in Turkey, where representatives from Ukraine and Russia have gathered to restart direct peace talks.
Earlier this year, Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which Ukraine agreed to, but the deal never materialized.
last weekend to renew efforts for the ceasefire.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin countered by proposing direct talks in Turkey, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr .
President Trump, , said he would attend if Putin did, but Putin did not commit, leaving the next steps uncertain.
"The president of the United States has been abundantly clear he wants the war to end," Rubio said. "He's open to virtually any mechanism that gets us to a just, enduring and lasting peace."
Instead, Trump is continuing his scheduled trip to the Middle East, visiting the United Arab Emirates, stating that he would go to Turkey on Friday "if something happened" and "if it was appropriate."
While U.S.-led talks to end the war have dragged on, Trump has expressed doubts about Putin's interest in actually ending the conflict.
In addition to the U.S. and Europe mediating the talks, Pope Leo XIV is also offering assistance, continuing the policy of his late predecessor Pope Francis.
Leo says the Vatican would make every effort to help with negotiations in the current Russia-Ukraine war and other conflicts.
"The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another," . "So that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace."
Zelenskyy, who for the offer, is expected to meet with Turkey's president Thursday on the sidelines of a NATO summit.