Zelenskyy, Trump, Allies Push for Russia Sanctions After Failed Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held urgent talks with President Donald Trump and key Western leaders from France, Germany, the U.K., and Poland after peace negotiations with Russia in Turkey collapsed without securing a ceasefire. The Istanbul meeting, the first between Ukraine and Russia in three years, aimed to halt the ongoing war but ended in stalemate, with Russia rejecting calls for an unconditional ceasefire.

Zelenskyy, in a post on X, emphasized Ukraine’s readiness to act swiftly for peace, urging global pressure on Russia. "If Russians reject a full ceasefire, tough sanctions must follow," he stated, rallying support from allies. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this, accusing Vladimir Putin of stalling for time by prolonging the conflict.

Trump, absent from the talks, insisted progress hinges on a direct meeting with Putin. Speaking from the UAE, he said, "He and I will meet. I think we’ll solve it—or at least we’ll know." Yet, with no timeline for such a meeting, uncertainty looms over next steps.

The talks, initially sparked by Putin’s proposal, took a hit when Russia sent a low-level delegation, a move Zelenskyy called a sign of Moscow’s lack of seriousness. As both sides dig in, the war grinds on, with allies now tasked with crafting a unified response to Russia’s intransigence.