Trump Urges Ceasefire as Ukraine, Russia Plan Istanbul Talks

President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum calling for direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, warning that the United States may withdraw from the peace settlement process if progress is not made promptly. Trump expressed support for a ceasefire as a crucial first step and has pushed for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky in Istanbul, scheduled for May 15, to discuss ending the war. Following Trump's surprise offer to join the talks, US and European diplomats engaged in extensive discussions to explore pathways toward a ceasefire, with key figures including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European foreign ministers participating. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart also discussed Moscow's direct talks with Kyiv, though it remains unclear who will represent Moscow in Istanbul. Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, neither the Kremlin nor Moscow have formally responded to Zelensky's or Trump's offers, and tensions persist given the leaders' mutual distrust. Trump criticized both sides on social media, urging Ukraine to accept negotiations and highlighting the urgency of determining whether a deal is possible to bring an end to the conflict.