The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is open to meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire continue.
Although the latest round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul failed to produce a breakthrough, both sides agreed on a major prisoner exchange. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has proposed hosting a third round of high-level negotiations later this month in either Istanbul or Ankara, this time involving President Trump, Putin, and Zelensky.
While President Zelensky has welcomed the idea, saying that key decisions must be made at the leaders’ level, Putin has yet to accept the invitation.
“President Trump is open to it if it comes to that,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, noting that he believes direct engagement between the two leaders is essential.
Following the talks, Zelensky urged Trump to take a stronger stance against Russia and increase sanctions to help secure a full ceasefire. He stressed that the aggressor should not be rewarded for launching a war.
During Monday’s discussions, Ukrainian officials said Russia rejected a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, instead offering a short-term truce of two to three days in limited frontline zones. Moscow continues to demand Ukrainian withdrawal from four partially occupied regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—as well as a ban on NATO membership and an end to Western military support.
Despite the ongoing political stalemate, both sides agreed to a significant prisoner swap involving at least 1,000 wounded and young combatants. They also arranged for the return of the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers.
Ukraine is currently reviewing a new proposal from Russian negotiators outlining terms for a potential broader peace agreement. Officials in Kyiv insist that a lasting deal is only possible after a complete cessation of hostilities across air, land, and sea.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the latest talks as “constructive” and confirmed that preparations are underway for a potential summit that would bring together Trump, Putin, and Zelensky.
Since the onset of the war, tens of thousands have died and millions have been displaced, marking Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War II. Meanwhile, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a daring drone attack on Russian airbases that reportedly damaged approximately 40 strategic bombers valued at $7 billion.
