Newsletters
The White House on Thursday expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine will engage in direct negotiations next week in Istanbul, aiming to advance efforts to resolve the Kremlin’s ongoing war against its eastern European neighbor.
“It is our understanding and hope that Russia and Ukraine will engage in direct talks and negotiations next week in Istanbul. We believe that the meeting is going to take place, and it is one the president has encouraged, urging both sides to come together and negotiate directly,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Leavitt emphasized that President Donald Trump has consistently supported a negotiated resolution to the conflict.
“From the very beginning, the president has been clear that this war should be resolved at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield. He has communicated that message to both leaders, publicly and privately. We hope that next week’s meeting will represent a meaningful step forward,” she said.
Leavitt noted that there are currently no plans for President Trump to send a U.S. representative to the talks, though she did not rule out the possibility.
The planned meeting in Istanbul on June 2 would mark the second round of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The first round, held on May 16, resulted in a limited agreement, including a prisoner exchange and the initiation of draft documents intended to guide the peace process.
Russia has stated that it will formally present the draft text during the upcoming talks. However, Ukraine has demanded that the draft be shared ahead of time, calling for immediate transparency in the negotiation process.
The Kremlin has criticized Kyiv’s stance, describing it as “unconstructive.”
2 min read
