Trump to continue work with Russia and Ukraine amid Putin's offer of direct talks

US President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to continue work with Russia and Ukraine following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called it “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine,” adding: “Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this never-ending ‘bloodbath’ hopefully comes to an end. It will be a whole new, and much better, WORLD. I will continue to work with both sides to make sure that it happens. The USA wants to focus, instead, on Rebuilding and Trade. A BIG week upcoming!”

Trump’s comments came shortly after Putin announced that Russia is ready for direct negotiations with Ukraine on Thursday, 15 May, in Istanbul. The Kremlin said the talks should aim at establishing a “long-term, lasting peace” and not merely a temporary pause in fighting.

"We are proposing that Kyiv resume direct negotiations without any preconditions,” Putin said in a statement from Moscow early Sunday. “Our proposal, as they say, is on the table. The decision is now up to the Ukrainian authorities and their curators, who are guided, it seems, by their personal political ambitions, and not by the interests of their peoples.”

Putin added that he would discuss the matter with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to ensure the negotiations can take place.

The proposal comes just hours after leaders of France, Germany, the UK, and Poland visited Kyiv to urge Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire beginning 12 May. They warned that if Moscow refuses, a new wave of “massive” sanctions would follow.