Trump Bows Out of Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks, Dubs Zelenskyy 'Greatest Salesman'

President Donald Trump has opted out of attending Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, citing scheduling conflicts during a business roundtable in Doha. The talks, aimed at brokering a ceasefire, were initially pushed by Trump, who urged Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

Trump, speaking with his characteristic flair, shrugged off Putin’s absence, saying, "Why would he go if I’m not there?" The president had briefly considered attending but noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are already in Istanbul, representing U.S. interests.

The war in Ukraine, Trump emphasized, "has to stop." He criticized the staggering $350 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine, calling it poorly accounted for and praising Zelenskyy’s knack for securing funds. "He’s the greatest salesman, maybe in history," Trump quipped. "Every U.S. visit, he walks away with billions."

While Putin proposed restarting talks, he’s sending aide Vladimir Medinsky instead of attending himself. Zelenskyy, however, insists on direct talks with the Russian leader. As negotiations falter, the human and economic toll of the conflict continues to weigh heavily.