Trump hints at possible participation in upcoming Putin-Zelenskyy talks in Istanbul

US President Donald Trump has suggested he may join Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for potential talks in Turkey scheduled for Thursday.

Speaking from the White House, Trump hinted at his possible involvement, praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a “great host” and implying he played a role in ensuring the meeting would take place.

“Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey,” Trump said. “President Erdogan is the great host. And we are doing some work with him, having to do with Syria too.”

While it remains unclear what exactly the meeting would entail or whether it has been officially confirmed, Trump claimed the gathering was not originally going to happen until he intervened.

“A meeting wasn’t going take place, and I insisted that that meeting take[s] place,” he said, adding, “You may have a good result out of the Thursday meeting in Turkey … and I believe the two leaders are going to be there.”

Trump left open the possibility of his attendance: “I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I am going be on Thursday, I’ve got so many meetings … There’s a possibility there I guess if I think things can happen.”