Posted on 05/14/2025 7:37:49 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
President Donald Trump said he may travel to Turkey for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, as he doesn’t believe President Vladimir Putin would show if he isn’t there.
"I don’t know if he’s showing up," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I know he would like me to be there. And that's a possibility."
-snip-
The president noted that he has a "full day" scheduled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Thursday, and he’d planned on sending Secretary of State and interim national security advisor Marco Rubio.
But, he added, "I don't know that [Putin] would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out. Marco's going and Marco's been very effective."
"If we could end the war, I'd be thinking about that. Now, tomorrow, we're all booked out, and you understand that, we're all set, UAE tomorrow, and so 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."
At the White House before heading on his Middle East trip, Trump told reporters: "Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A few days ago Putin said was going???!?!
Kyiv in 3 days!
Zelensky says if Putin is not showing up for that meeting, then he won’t either. For once, I have to agree with Zelensky, if Putin is not there, or does not even send a representative, that obviously means Putin is not in agreement with the goals of this meeting.
Traveling all the way to Turkey, only to see an empty chair at the negotiating table would be an insult, to all participants, and only a waste of time.
He should go.
Putin never said he was going himself or Trump would already know that.
Zelensky is looking to weasel out like weasels do.
LOL. His wallet depends on no actual end to this debacle.
Just go Zelensky and show what a big boy you are.
Putin’s gonna punk out. Plus he has cancer treatments scheduled.
He should go. |
He should NOT go.
On the contrary, Z man is wanting a bullhorn and a photo op,
condemning P as a big coward for not responding to his demand.
A cherry on top if he can get Trump in the picture. The Russians however, see this as just another NATO con. Give it three months.
If Rubio is going then Lavrov will go. This is not a difficult equation. Russia quotes this morning says the subject of Lavrov’s presentation will be conditions on the ground — which would seem to be the obvious starting point.
When foreign ministers travel to a home country, then that country’s head of state will meet with them. Putin spent hours with Witkof in St Petersburg. I can’t recall instances when a head of state travelled elsewhere to meet with a foreign minister, so Putin going there to see Rubio seems unlikely.
Meanwhile
Ukraine defense lines collapsing
This video describes the military situation in Ukraine on the 14th of May 2025
https://rumble.com/v6td1o9-mykhailivka-has-fallen-zelensky-doesnt-know-what-to-do-military-summary-and.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp
So many possibilities. Look for the verb "may." Look for the words "might" and "might not." Look for the "if."
Let's headline "unclear." That way we can be clear about being unclear.
--- "...in a glimmer of hope...."
Indeed. Why worry about Ruzzia massing troops with another offensive
when Ruzzia can’t take Kiev in 3 days.
No worries for YouCrayne.
I would argue that one of the pivotal moments leading to the collapse of Tzarist Russia was when the Tzar took personal control over the command of the war effort. His advisors told him that if it failed then he personally would be held responsible, and it was better that he left the command structure in the general’s hands.
I think if Trump takes attends the negotiations personally, he’ll be held responsible when they fail. They most likely will fail. Not because the deal isn’t good enough, but because any deal at all is bad for Putin personally. He’s in a damned if he does damned if he doesn’t position. If the war stops then Russian’s war time economy will instantly collapse and thousands of angry and probably unpaid soldiers will return home. As long as the war continues, Putin continues in charge and is personally safe. His choice is lose control now or lose control later. He’ll vote for later.
.
News crew: "Are we interrubting something?"
Tell your Zelesnky not to come up with an excuse to weasel out of the talks and to wear a proper suit and tie!
I see it the other way. Zelensky should go no matter what, and if Putin flakes he can grandstand that Russia does not want to end the war. It would be good PR for the moment and, put some egg on Trump’s face too because Trump’s been hyping the peace deal with Russia. Putin has to show if Zelensky is there. Trump can fly in Friday, or reschedule the UAE for 24 hours. If Trump goes it shows Trump is serious and anyone who flakes will get Trump’s ire.
If P doesn’t go, then Z won’t go, whaaa! Come on, put your big boy pants on and get this thing done and over with. Fine, don’t go but there’s this neat invention called Zoom. Y’all don’t need Papa Trump to hold your hands.
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