Rubio to Join Thursday’s Istanbul Talks Between Ukraine, Russia – Trump

US President Donald Trump said State Secretary Marco Rubio will visit Istanbul on Thursday for the high-stakes Kyiv-Moscow talks. 

Citing unnamed officials, Reuters previously reported that Washington’s Russia envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg will attend the talks initiated by Moscow on Sunday. 

During Tuesday’s speech at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump confirmed that Rubio will also visit Turkey for the talks. 

“I’ve also been working relentlessly to end the terrible bloodshed between Russia and Ukraine, and very importantly, talks are being held in Turkey later this week, probably on Thursday, and they could produce some pretty good results,” Trump said.  

“Our people are gonna be going there, Marco’s gonna be going there. Others are gonna be going,” he added. It is unclear if Trump referred to Witkoff and Kellogg. 

Earlier, it was reported that Rubio would be heading to Antalya between May 14 and May 16 to meet with his NATO counterparts in an informal setting. The timing of the NATO meeting coincides with the Istanbul talks.  

Trump hinted earlier on Monday that he might attend the Istanbul talks himself. 

Kellogg, speaking to Fox Business on Tuesday, said Trump might attend if Russian leader Vladimir Putin shows up on Thursday. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed his attendance but said the talks will only take place if Putin is there. 

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Speaking to a Russian state television interviewer, Putin said Ukraine had suggested a mutual halt to long-range strikes as a step toward de-escalation.

Moscow said preparations are underway for the talks without confirming if Putin will attend the talks, according to Russian state media TASS on Tuesday. 

Thursday’s upcoming talks were initiated by Putin on Sunday in response to the West’s ceasefire ultimatum on Saturday. 

In his speech, Putin claimed Russia had always been open to a ceasefire and blamed Kyiv for previous plans that had fallen through without answering the latest ceasefire call. 

Western officials have previously hinted at more sanctions if Moscow failed to comply with the ultimatum by Monday, but German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that Moscow could show “real progress“ this week before the West decides whether to move forward with the sanctions.