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United States President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take part in Ukraine peace talks scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul, expressing optimism about a possible breakthrough in the conflict that has gripped Eastern Europe since 2022.
“Talks are being held in Turkey later this week, probably on Thursday, and they could be some pretty good results,” Trump said during a speech in the Saudi capital. “Marco is going to be going there,” he added, referring to Rubio.
The high-stakes diplomatic meeting was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday during a news conference in Moscow as a counteroffer to a 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by Kyiv and its Western allies — a plan that Ukraine said Russia had “completely ignored.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already confirmed his attendance at the proposed direct talks in Istanbul, while Putin has yet to confirm his participation. Trump, meanwhile, signaled earlier he may also travel to Türkiye should his presence be deemed useful to the process.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Türkiye’s readiness to host the negotiations during a recent phone call with Putin, urging all sides to seize the “window of opportunity” for peace.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Moscow’s forces now control around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Meanwhile, Trump's special envoys Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff are reportedly expected to take part in the talks, regardless if US president attends. Rubio will be in Türkiye's Antalya from May 14 -16 for an informal NATO foreign ministers meeting.
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