Two senior US envoys are expected to attend the upcoming Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, where Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has confirmed his participation and invited Russia’s Vladimir Putin, according to US media reports.
Two prominent US envoys are preparing to join Thursday’s Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, even if President Donald Trump does not attend, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing anonymous officials.
Keith Kellogg, the US envoy to Ukraine, and Steve Witkoff, the US envoy for Middle East affairs, are both expected to be present at the landmark meeting. While their role is expected to be observational, their attendance underlines Washington’s interest in the talks facilitated by Türkiye.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed his participation in the discussions and publicly invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to take part. The talks would mark the first direct engagement between the two nations since early 2022.
Putin proposed the meeting following his rejection of European calls for a 30-day ceasefire. While the Kremlin has offered to hold negotiations without preconditions, it has not yet confirmed whether Putin himself will be present in Istanbul.
US President Donald Trump previously described the planned talks as “a potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine” and expressed his willingness to attend. However, ongoing engagements in the Gulf may prevent his participation.
Türkiye has positioned itself as a key mediator in the conflict, hosting the talks as part of broader international efforts to explore a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war.
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