As Ukraine-Russia negotiations unfold in Istanbul, Trump indicates he must be present for any discussions between Zelenskyy and Putin to take place.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to take part in the talks as Trump pressed for the leaders to find a solution to the war, ongoing since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But Putin spurned the call to meet face-to-face with Zelenskyy.

Responding to reporters’ questions about Putin’s decision not to travel to Türkiye, Trump said he was not surprised. “I actually said why should he go if I'm not going? I wasn't going to go. I could have gone,