Putin-Trump meeting in Istanbul requires mutual consent: Kremlin
2 Min Read
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov clarifies that a proposed Istanbul summit between Presidents Putin and Trump depends on direct agreement between Moscow and Washington, not just Erdogan’s invitation.
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This combination photo shows President Donald Trump in a business roundtable, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 10, 2025 (AP)
A proposed meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Istanbul hinges not only on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's initiative but also on a direct agreement between the Russian and American leaders, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
"Erdogan has proposed Istanbul as a venue, but this requires an understanding not only with Mr. Erdogan but also between Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump," Ushakov told Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin.
Earlier in June, President Erdogan expressed his hope that Istanbul could serve as the meeting place for President Putin, President Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He indicated that Turkey is prepared to take the necessary steps to facilitate such a summit.
While Ushakov acknowledged that such a summit could potentially occur without extensive preparation, he emphasized that its realization depends on consent from all primary parties involved. The Kremlin continues to assess the feasibility and diplomatic implications of the proposed gathering in Turkey.
Putin says Russia, Ukraine peace proposals contradictory
Meanwhile, Putin said Friday that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled, with each side’s demands “absolutely contradictory,” following two failed rounds of negotiations.
During recent talks in Istanbul, negotiators exchanged memoranda outlining their visions for ending the war, now in its third year. However, aside from agreeing to large-scale prisoner swaps, the meetings yielded no meaningful progress toward a ceasefire.
"As for the memorandums, as expected, nothing surprising happened... these are two absolutely contradictory memorandums," Putin said during a press conference in Minsk, Belarus. "That's why negotiations are being organised and conducted, in order to find a path to bringing them closer together."
At the talks, Russia has demanded Ukraine surrender more territory and renounce Western military assistance, conditions Kiev flatly rejects as unacceptable.
Read more: Russia urges West to drop hostility, warns against NATO threat
