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By Jordan King
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President Donald Trump has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for "direct" talks with Ukraine, calling it a "potentially great day."
Later on Sunday, Trump wrote via Truth Social that Putin wants to meet in Turkey with Ukraine on Thursday to negotiate "a possible end to the BLOODBATH."
Why It Matters
Global tensions are high amid ongoing ceasefire and peace talks for the Russia-Ukraine war and Trump growingly increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress.
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"I have a message for both parties: Get this war ended," Trump recently said from the Oval Office. "Get this stupid war finished. That's my message for both of them."
It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other European leaders issued an ultimatum to Putin, threatening to increase sanctions on Russia if Moscow does not agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Monday.
What To Know
Putin invited Kyiv to take part in "serious negotiations" in Istanbul, aimed at "moving towards a lasting, strong peace" while speaking from the Kremlin on Sunday.
He said the talks would be the "first step" toward "long-term sustainable peace and not a prologue to a continuation of the armed conflict after rearmament."
Trump wrote on Truth Social that this was "a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine."
"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," he said. "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!"
Later on Sunday, Trump added a new post to Truth Social, writing: "President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who's too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll..."
Zelensky said his country is "ready to meet" Moscow but repeated his own ceasefire proposal.
"It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war," wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire—full, lasting, and reliable—starting tomorrow, May 12th, and Ukraine is ready to meet."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron about Putin's proposal, which Erdoğan called a "historic moment," according to Turkey's press service.
"Stating that a historic turning point has been reached in ending the war between Ukraine and Russia and that this opportunity should be seized, President Erdoğan said that Turkey is ready to offer any contribution, including hosting negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace," the service said on X.
"President Erdoğan expressed that it is important to continue cooperating in starting permanent peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and in sensitively carrying out the processes of Ukraine's restoration," it added.
The Russia-Ukraine war was one of the global conflicts that Pope Leo XIV used his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican to speak about.
"I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible," Leo told an estimated 100,000 people, according to The Associated Press, from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday.
What People Are Saying
President Vladimir Putin said, according to a translation by the BBC: "We are determined to have serious negotiations with Ukraine. The purpose is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and establish long-term, lasting peace with a historical perspective.
"We do not exclude that during these negotiations it will be possible to agree to some new truces, a new ceasefire. Moreover, a real ceasefire that would be observed not only by the Russian side, but also by the Ukrainian side."
He continued: "This would be the first step, I repeat, toward long-term sustainable peace and not a prologue to a continuation of the armed conflict after rearmament. re-completion of Ukraine's armed forces and feverish digging of trenches and new strongpoints."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Sky News: "We think that the seriousness is to propose negotiations.
"A simplistic approach to a ceasefire is inappropriate," he added.
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What Happens Next?
It is yet to be seen whether Putin will respond to Zelensky's call for a ceasefire to begin in less than 24 hours.
While Zelensky has said Kyiv is "ready to meet," it is unclear whether that is a direct acceptance of Putin's invitation to Istanbul.
Update 5/11/25, 1:26 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with a new Trump statement.
Update 5/11/25, 11:14 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.
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