Ukraine Peace Talks Stumble as Trump, Putin Skip Turkey Summit, Rubio Sees No Progress

Peace talks in Turkey aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict hit a snag as both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed they would not attend the Friday meeting, casting doubt on any meaningful progress. The negotiations, initially set for Thursday, were postponed after logistical chaos and miscommunications left delegations, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, scrambling in various Turkish cities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed skepticism about the talks, emphasizing that only a direct conversation between Trump and Putin could break the deadlock. "Without that high-level engagement, we’re just spinning our wheels," Rubio told reporters, underscoring Trump’s willingness to negotiate directly with Putin to find a path to peace.

The talks were sparked by Putin’s recent proposal for direct dialogue, which Zelenskyy endorsed, insisting on leader-to-leader discussions. However, the Kremlin’s last-minute confirmation of Putin’s absence, coupled with Trump’s decision to skip the meeting while wrapping up a Middle East tour, derailed hopes for immediate progress. Aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested a scheduling mix-up was to blame, humorously noting that Putin "thought I was going, but I wasn’t, so he didn’t show either."

Zelenskyy didn’t mince words, calling Putin’s no-show a "personal disrespect" to both Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who hosted the talks. Frustration mounted as delegations questioned whether the meeting would even occur. Rubio echoed the sentiment, warning against wasting time on unproductive global summits and stressing that a Trump-Putin face-to-face is the only way forward.

As the war grinds on, the absence of key players in Turkey highlights the complexity of achieving peace. For now, no plans for a Trump-Putin meeting have been announced, leaving the world waiting for the next move.