Trump Doubts Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Ahead Turkey Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey for peace talks, marking the first direct engagement since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting follows European leaders' call for a 30-day ceasefire and threats of sanctions against Russia if it refuses. However, US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the prospects of a ceasefire, stating he doubts Ukraine will reach a deal with Putin, whom he believes is not genuinely interested in ending the conflict but wants to negotiate an end to the 'bloodbath.' Despite Trump's urging for Ukraine to accept the talks immediately to clarify whether a peace deal is possible, Western allies remain cautious, emphasizing that no talks should proceed without an unconditional ceasefire from Russia. Putin's offer for direct negotiations is the first overture from Moscow in over two years and aims to address the root causes of the conflict while protecting Russia's interests. Zelenskyy expressed hope that this time Russia will not find excuses, viewing Moscow's consideration of ending the conflict as a positive sign.