Trump's Diplomatic Efforts in Middle East and Ukraine

President Trump has decided to skip Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, downplaying Russian President Vladimir Putin's absence from the talks. Trump had previously floated the idea of attending the talks himself but cited scheduling conflicts for his decision not to go. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had challenged Putin to meet in person in Turkey, but the Kremlin said its delegation would be led by Putin's aide instead. Trump praised Zelenskyy as "the greatest salesman, maybe in history" for securing billions of dollars in aid from the US. The peace talks are aimed at producing a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

US Senator Marco Rubio has stated that a breakthrough in Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey is unlikely without a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, echoing comments made by Trump himself. The talks, which were set to take place in Istanbul, will feature delegations from Turkey, the US, Ukraine, and Russia, with Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Russia's presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky leading their respective teams. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the "low-level" Russian delegation, while Medinsky insisted his team had "all the necessary competencies". The talks aim to discuss a potential ceasefire and long-term peace, but Russia's demands, including Ukraine becoming a neutral country and abandoning Nato membership ambitions, have been rejected by Ukraine in the past.

Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped Ukraine peace talks in Turkey, instead sending a low-level delegation led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who has denied Ukraine's right to exist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the move, calling the Russian delegation "decorative." Russia responded with insults, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling Zelenskyy "pathetic" and a spokeswoman labeling him a "clown" and "loser." The talks' chances of success were further undermined by Russia's continued territorial gains in eastern Ukraine and insistence on Ukraine's "denazification" and demilitarization. US President Donald Trump said he might attend the talks if there was meaningful progress, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed impatience and a willingness to consider any mechanism to end the war.

President Trump stated that the US and Iran have "sort of" agreed to terms on a nuclear deal, describing the ongoing talks as "very serious negotiations" for "long-term peace." Trump emphasized that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and in return, he implied that sanctions could be lifted. Meanwhile, a top Iranian adviser said Tehran is willing to give up its highly enriched uranium stockpiles and allow international inspectors in exchange for an immediate lifting of all economic sanctions. Trump's comments came during his Middle East trip, where he also met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and pledged to lift yearslong sanctions on Syria, and visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, promoting his administration's efforts to bring peace to the region.

The Kremlin is proceeding with potential ceasefire talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite potentially incurring the wrath of US President Donald Trump. Zelensky has stated he will attend the talks in Turkey, setting minimal goals, while Russia is driving the schedule of the negotiations. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed interest in attending the meeting and is currently on a trip to the Middle East, where he has met with the Saudi crown prince and announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria.

President Donald Trump's presidency is marked by an aggressive flexing of authority, but recent events suggest he can't control every outcome. Despite projecting an image of being a strongman, Trump has faced challenges from foreign leaders, including China's President Xi Jinping, who forced Trump to rein in his trade war by refusing to bend to a 145% tariff. Russian President Vladimir Putin also snubbed Trump's peace efforts regarding Ukraine. At home, Trump has been more successful in imposing his will, using executive actions to intimidate opponents and institutions. However, he can't control the consequences of his actions, such as the impact of tariffs on the economy, with companies like Walmart warning of higher prices. The Supreme Court is set to play a crucial role in defining Trump's authority, with a critical hearing on his attempt to reject birthright citizenship. Trump's actions have sparked court battles, and while he may wield significant executive power, his capacity to act is being tested by various constraints.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul for peace talks, their first meeting in three years. Zelensky has stated he will not engage in "playing games" and has set minimal goals for the meeting, potentially discussing a ceasefire. The talks are significant as they mark a crucial moment in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is necessary to break the deadlock in Ukraine peace talks, expressing doubt that anything productive will happen without such a meeting, with both Trump and Putin having initially suggested they might attend the talks before ultimately deciding not to.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended peace talks in Turkey, but Russian President Vladimir Putin did not, sending a lower-level delegation instead. Putin's absence may be a negotiating tactic, and it has pushed the US into stating that a summit meeting between Donald Trump and Putin is needed to move forward, potentially excluding Zelenskyy. This uncertainty benefits Putin, who is exploiting the current era of Trump-era diplomacy to secure negotiations that favor Russia.

The US has "low expectations" for upcoming negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who believes a breakthrough will only come when US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet directly. The talks, taking place in Turkey, follow Putin's proposal for direct negotiations "without preconditions" after Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called for a meeting with Putin in Istanbul. Rubio will meet Ukraine's delegation on Friday, but expressed skepticism about a ceasefire agreement, echoing Trump's earlier statement that "nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together."

President Trump, speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, expressed his desire to make a deal with Iran, stating that it must stop sponsoring terror and cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. He praised the UAE and Bahrain for signing the Abraham Accords and said the US will continue to add more countries to the agreement. Trump also mentioned that Lebanon has a chance to rebuild and be free from Hezbollah's influence if its new leaders can create an effective state, and envisioned a future Middle East as a thriving commercial and cultural hub.

US President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East trip with a visit to the United Arab Emirates, following stops in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The trip resulted in a series of agreements and investments, including a $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia, a deal for Qatar to purchase up to 210 Boeing planes, and a partnership with the UAE to build a massive data center complex in Abu Dhabi to advance artificial intelligence capabilities. The US also announced a $1.4 billion weapons sale to the UAE. Additionally, Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria and met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The trip also saw the Trump family’s business ties expand, with new projects announced during the visit.

President Donald Trump visited the United Arab Emirates, marking the first time a U.S. president has traveled to the nation in nearly 20 years. Trump was expected to announce new agreements with the UAE, a key U.S. trading partner, following a $1.4 trillion investment pledge by the UAE in the U.S. economy. The visit was also seen as an opportunity to strengthen geopolitical ties, particularly given the UAE's normalized diplomatic relations with Israel and its role in regional issues. Discussions were expected to focus on the U.S.-Emirati strategic partnership, great power competition with China and Russia, and regional issues with Iran. The visit was also under scrutiny due to Trump's personal business ties to the region.

Iran is willing to make concessions on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions, according to a top adviser to the Iranian Supreme Leader. Ali Shamkhani said Tehran would commit to not making nuclear weapons, reduce its stockpiles of enriched uranium, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has asked Qatar to help persuade Iran to give up its nuclear programme during his tour of the Middle East, saying "I hope you can help me with the Iran situation."

Hamas has confirmed it is in direct talks with the US over peace in Gaza, with a senior official, Dr. Basem Naim, stating that the group has shared its proposed agreement with the US administration. Hamas is calling for a prisoner exchange, total withdrawal of Israeli forces, and rebuilding of Gaza without forced immigration. Dr. Naim said Hamas is willing to hand over government control if a peaceful resolution is reached and has accepted an Egyptian peace proposal. He urged US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel to end the war, saying Trump has the capability and will to achieve a peaceful situation. The White House responded, stating that Hamas has not demonstrated seriousness about peace and must lay down its arms.

US Senator Marco Rubio has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stating that the US is "troubled" by the suffering of its people. At least 114 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Thursday, with many more injured. Rubio's comments come as Israel intensifies its bombardment of Gaza ahead of a planned ground offensive, and as indirect negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel continue. The US is Israel's main arms supplier, and Rubio's language is seen as a departure from his previous responses, which only called on Hamas to surrender. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with hospitals overwhelmed and aid blocked by Israel for 10 weeks.

Former Hamas hostages, including Keith Siegel, have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to work towards releasing the remaining hostages held by Hamas, even if it means halting military operations. The hostages, 65 of whom have survived captivity, believe that the recent release of American-Israeli Edan Alexander presents a "genuine opportunity" for a comprehensive deal. They are calling on the parties involved to "not walk away until a comprehensive deal is signed." Trump has expressed optimism about the release and stated that all hostages of all nationalities must be released as a stepping stone to peace. Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the letter.