Despite days of speculation, U.S. President Donald Trump will not be traveling to Turkey to personally mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, according to two White House officials. The confirmation came shortly after the Kremlin released its delegation list, which notably did not include Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump had stirred questions about a possible surprise visit by repeatedly hinting that he might join the talks, even suggesting that Putin would “like me to be there.” Speaking aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it to save a lot of lives and come back.”
Still, officials said that rerouting Trump’s three-nation Middle East itinerary — carefully crafted over weeks — would have been a logistical and diplomatic challenge. His current schedule includes stops in Qatar and the UAE before returning to Washington on Friday.
While Trump continued to suggest his presence was on the table, the groundwork for such participation appeared thin. Despite originally proposing the summit, Putin had not agreed to attend. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would only negotiate directly with Putin, not with any other Russian representatives.
Trump first raised the idea of traveling to Turkey on Monday, saying, “There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen.” He later added, “I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there,” in reference to Putin.
Asked whether he believes Putin is “tapping him along,” as he previously posted on social media, Trump told reporters, “I’ll let you know in a few days.”
For now, the peace talks will proceed without either Trump or Putin, amid uncertainty about what – if anything – they will achieve.
