Trump’s Turkey Peace Plan Flops: Putin Skips Talks, Summit Fizzles

US President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia collapsed during a summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, as Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to attend. The initiative, touted as a bold step to resolve the ongoing conflict, unraveled when Trump also opted not to join, leaving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the sole major leader present. The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was meant to build on Trump’s earlier ceasefire proposal but instead drew mockery, with posts on X labeling it a “diplomatic disaster.”

Putin’s Snub and Trump’s Absence
Putin’s absence was a deliberate snub, with Russian state media reporting he dismissed Trump’s plan as “unserious” and refused to negotiate under US mediation. Trump, who had hinted at personally attending via Truth Social posts on May 10, 2025, cited scheduling conflicts but faced criticism for misjudging Putin’s willingness to engage. Zelenskyy, present in Istanbul, challenged Putin to “show courage,” but his remarks fell flat without Russian participation. The lack of key players turned the summit into a symbolic failure, undermining Trump’s foreign policy credibility early in his term.
Türkiye’s Diminished Role
Türkiye, aiming to position itself as a neutral mediator, suffered a setback as the summit failed to produce meaningful dialogue. Erdogan’s efforts to facilitate talks, leveraging Türkiye’s ties with both Russia and Ukraine, were overshadowed by the high-profile absences. The summit’s collapse highlighted the challenges of mediating a conflict where trust between parties remains low, with Russia insisting on direct talks with Ukraine, bypassing US involvement.

Global Reactions and Implications
The fiasco drew sharp reactions globally, with European leaders expressing skepticism about Trump’s approach, while posts on X ridiculed the summit as a “photo-op gone wrong.” The failure complicates Ukraine’s position, as Zelenskyy faces pressure to secure military aid amid stalled talks. For Trump, the episode underscores the difficulty of navigating Russia’s intransigence, raising questions about his administration’s ability to deliver on ambitious foreign policy goals in a volatile geopolitical landscape.