Former U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced skepticism over Ukraine’s willingness to secure a ceasefire agreement with Russia, even as both nations prepare to enter high-stakes negotiations in Turkey on May 15.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin,” and described the conflict as a “bloodbath” that must come to an end. Trump claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was open to negotiations and urged Ukraine to attend talks in Turkey to explore a possible resolution.
“If a deal is possible, it will be determined there—with both parties, the U.S., and European leaders at the table,” Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Kyiv is willing to participate in talks in Istanbul, but only if Moscow first agrees to a 30-day ceasefire, beginning May 15. “There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day,” Zelensky wrote on social media. He added that a ceasefire would be the “first step toward ending the war.”
The development marks the first time in over three years—since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022—that both sides have shown openness to direct negotiations. Previous peace talks in Istanbul in 2022 collapsed without progress, and the conflict has since escalated, claiming thousands of lives and displacing millions.
While Russia has expressed readiness to resume talks “without any preconditions,” President Putin has so far not addressed the specific ceasefire demand made by Ukraine and its Western allies. In a televised Kremlin address, he said, “We propose to start negotiations without delay on May 15 in Istanbul,” but criticized Western “ultimatums” and accused European powers of attempting to prolong the war.
Western leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and the UK’s Prime Minister, have called for an unconditional ceasefire from Russia before any diplomatic process can begin. “There can be no negotiations while weapons are speaking,” Macron said.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating a recently concluded 72-hour ceasefire. Ukrainian forces reported downing over 60 of 108 drones launched by Russia on May 11, just after the truce ended. Moscow has claimed Ukraine failed to honor the ceasefire agreement as well.
With tensions still high, all eyes are now on Thursday’s talks in Turkey, seen as a potential turning point in Europe’s most devastating war since World War II.
