Posted on 05/13/2025 7:29:17 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
U.S. President Donald Trump's senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will travel to Istanbul for potential talks on Thursday on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, three sources familiar with the plans said on Tuesday.
However, a senior U.S. official said it was unclear whether anyone from the Russian government would show up.
The White House, State Department, National Security Council and a spokesperson for Witkoff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will only attend the talks this week if Russia's Vladimir Putin is also there, an aide to the Ukrainian leader said on Tuesday, challenging the Kremlin to show it is genuine about seeking peace.
Moscow has not said whether Putin will travel to Turkey. Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, unleashing a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers on both sides.
When asked directly who would represent Russia at the talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday: "As soon as the president sees fit, we will announce it."
The senior U.S. official said Washington did not expect an announcement about Moscow's plans until early Thursday morning.
Trump said on Monday he would fly to Istanbul for the meeting if necessary. He is in the Middle East region this week for meetings with officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
U.S. officials over the weekend had urged Zelenskiy to agree to meet Putin in person in Istanbul and to announce his plans publicly to openly show his intentions to negotiate with Moscow on a peace deal.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
One long drum roll here. We’ll see. If Trump goes it will mean things are getting serious. Putin will have no part in being a pushover or even the appearance of giving in.
The meeting in Turkey on Thursday was Putin’s idea in the first place.
Sounds like offers are on the proverbial table, albeit not the showbiz one. More sanctions or maybe not. Ceasefire or maybe not.
"...the European Union has threatened...." So, don't threaten. Just do it. What is the "European official" speaking for the EU waiting for?
A time line of sorts...So? Do it. That 24-hour ultimatum is past. Do it. Do something other than presenting "a united front" and "threaten.""...the group of leaders — mostly from Europe — had agreed on four things. The steps toward peace would: keep aid flowing to Kyiv and maintain economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine’s hand; make sure Ukraine is at the bargaining table and any peace deal must ensure its sovereignty and security; and continue to arm Ukraine to deter future invasion."
Source: UK’s Starmer says Europe is at ‘crossroads in history’ as leaders agree to steps to Ukraine peace AP, 3 March 2025.
And then, ten days ago and nine days after the 24-hour ultimatum, "Vladimir Putin has been warned by European leaders that he has 24 hours to accept a 30-day ceasefire or he will face a raft of new sanctions as Starmer said they were 'calling Putin out'."
Source: Keir Starmer issues bold new threat to Putin and says he has Trump's support Mirror UK, 10 May 2025.
And then, two days ago, "Starmer, Macron, Merz, and Tusk, after a meeting in Kyiv with Zelensky, presented a united front...."
Source: Starmer says Europe and Trump ‘calling Putin out’ over Ukraine truce Independent UK, 11 May 2025
From well over a year ago, one heard "French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not 'ruled out' in the future...."
Source: Putting Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not ‘ruled out’ in the future, French leader says AP, 26 February 2024.
So what do we think they will do? Based on Macron's 2024 nothing "is ruled out," apparently nothing is ruled out, and then nothing is ruled out and it is sure that nothing will be ruled out.
But Reuters today added: "The senior U.S. official said Washington did not expect an announcement about Moscow's plans until early Thursday morning."
Putin’s managed to get more Russians than anyone since Hitler and Stalin.
That can’t be sitting well back home.
The best thing for them would be regime change, but that’s a scary step to take against a former spy guy with a body count as long as the Clinton’s.
He’s a stubborn bastard like the rest. Will the next one be as bad?
Putin’s managed to get more Russians than anyone since Hitler and Stalin.
That can’t be sitting well back home.
Never underestimate Russians’ capacity for suffering.
The EU, Ukraine and Russia have no clue what to do because they never done it before. If they don’t negotiate and Thursday passes, Trump will walk away and let the parties solve it on their own. Meanwhile, China played FAFO with the tariffs and they are now screwed.
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