US President Donald Trump said today that he would return to Washington after the end of his diplomatic tour in the Persian Gulf, reports „Reuters“, BTA reports.
„Let's see what happens between Russia and Ukraine“, he said on the occasion of the resumed talks between the two countries, which are taking place in Turkey.
Trump added that he is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin „as soon as it becomes possible to organize such a meeting“.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine will hold talks today in Istanbul - the first direct dialogue between the countries in more than three years. The talks are taking place amid growing international pressure, including from President Trump, to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
The meeting, held at the Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus, is seen as a possible sign of diplomatic progress after direct talks were suspended in March 2022.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, a trilateral meeting between Turkish, American and Ukrainian representatives has already begun in Istanbul.
However, expectations for a significant breakthrough remain low. They were further cooled after Trump said that without a personal meeting between him and Putin, there would be little real progress.