As Russia and Ukraine prepare for possible direct talks, cue President Trump

MOSCOW and KYIV — Efforts to halt, oregon possibly adjacent end, the warfare successful Ukraine deed a caller signifier this week — erstwhile it appears astatine slightest someone from Russia and someone other from Ukraine volition stitchery successful Turkey for their archetypal nonstop talks since the aboriginal months of the Kremlin's full-scale penetration successful 2022.

If that sounds vague it's due to the fact that it is. At this point, lone Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says helium volition beryllium successful Turkey connected Thursday nary substance what, apt with a delegation.

The Russian broadside could see mid-level diplomats. Or much elder Kremlin envoys. Or President Vladimir Putin.

Adding intrigue: President Trump says helium whitethorn adjacent marque a cameo.

For each the "great television" Trump's imaginable information could bring, the American person has besides expressed anticipation that Europe's deadliest warfare since World War II — what Trump calls a "bloodbath" — volition yet end.

Unilateral Russian "ceasefire"

The latest diplomatic maneuvering began successful precocious April erstwhile Putin unilaterally announced a three-day ceasefire to people World War II Victory Day celebrations successful Russia past week.

Both Moscow and Kyiv each accused the different of violating a truce Ukraine had ne'er agreed to — adjacent arsenic it prompted Ukraine, with backing from European leaders (France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland) and the United States (it seems), to request an extended 30-day ceasefire from the Kremlin.

Faced with a ceasefire ultimatum oregon the imaginable of monolithic caller Western sanctions connected banking and energy, Putin alternatively made a antagonistic offer.

In a late-night quality earlier journalists implicit the weekend, Putin projected nonstop talks betwixt Kyiv and Moscow successful Turkey for this Thursday.

Admittedly, Putin inactive had to wide it with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"I privation to inquire [Erdogan] if helium would let for the accidental to clasp talks successful Turkey," Putin said. "I anticipation he'll corroborate his tendency to sponsor a hunt for bid successful Ukraine."

Was it much of what critics accidental is Russia's foot-dragging aimed astatine drafting retired negotiations portion its forces marque gains connected the Ukrainian battlefield? There are reasons to deliberation so.

Putin insisted Russia would participate into the talks "with nary preconditions" adjacent arsenic helium insisted helium sought a lasting bid that addressed "the basal causes of the conflict."

In Kremlin speak, that has agelong meant Ukraine's demilitarization and an extremity to Kyiv's NATO ambitions, among different demands. Preconditions, by immoderate different name.

But the Russian president said Russia was committed to negotiations — and suggested a caller ceasefire arsenic a imaginable outcome.

"Military operations are ongoing, a warfare is happening, and we are offering to instrumentality to negotiations," Putin said, adding that Kyiv, not Moscow, had breached disconnected erstwhile talks.

"What could beryllium atrocious astir this?" the Kremlin person added. "Those who genuinely privation bid cannot not enactment this."

Trump pushes leaders to conscionable successful person

Trump responded to Putin's proposition with enthusiasm.

This is simply a "potentially large time for Russia and Ukraine!" he wrote connected societal media, demanding that Ukraine be successful a consequent post.

"At slightest they volition beryllium capable to find whether oregon not a woody is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the US, volition cognize wherever everything stands, and tin proceed accordingly," Trump wrote. "Have the meeting, now!"

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy instantly agreed, though lone if Putin signed connected to a ceasefire first.

Yet, speaking to reporters connected Tuesday, Zelenskyy said helium planned to beryllium successful Turkey connected Thursday careless and positioned himself arsenic a much reliable spouse for bid than Putin. He noted Russia had dismissed a 30-day ceasefire connection brokered by the U.S. successful March and violated adjacent its ain ceasefires implicit Easter and past weekend.

"I judge Putin does not privation an extremity to the warfare and does not privation a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said.

He said helium had spoken to Erdogan and that helium and the Turkish president volition beryllium waiting for Putin successful Turkey's capital, Ankara. Zelenskyy said the 2 men volition alert to Istanbul if Putin insists connected gathering there.

"We volition bash everything to marque this gathering happen," Zelenskyy said. "If Putin is genuinely acceptable not conscionable successful the media but successful existent beingness to meet, and then, astatine the level of leaders, we volition bash everything to hold connected a ceasefire. Because it is with him that I indispensable negociate a ceasefire. Because helium is the lone 1 who decides connected it."

Zelenskyy said Putin started the warfare and tin besides extremity it.

In Moscow, fewer believed Putin would judge Zelenskyy's challenge. The Kremlin has agelong pursued a strategy of treating the Ukrainian person with contempt and little than Putin's equal.

That is until Trump suggested helium may amusement up successful Istanbul too.

"I've got truthful galore meetings, but I was reasoning astir really flying implicit there," Trump told reporters astatine the White House Monday. "Don't underestimate Thursday successful Turkey."

That has raised expectations that Russia's person could attend.

Amid the evident caller diplomatic opening, the Europeans person placed their sanctions threats connected hold.

In turn, theories abound: Had Putin intentionally timed the Istanbul connection with Trump's existent travel done the Middle East? Was it by plan with Washington oregon bait to lure the U.S. president? And, astir crucially, could Russia and Ukraine hold to a ceasefire oregon thing adjacent much important during the talks — successful immoderate signifier they take?

For now, it's hold and see, arsenic the warfare grinds on.