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President Donald Trump, with his usual bravado, expressed no surprise on Thursday when his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, decided to play hooky from the anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey.
Trump had hoped for Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in diplomatic tête-à-tête in Istanbul. However, Putin’s cold shoulder didn’t seem to ruffle Trump’s feathers. “I didn’t think Putin could go if I’m not there,” Trump quipped to the press.
Earlier in the week, Trump had toyed with the possibility of attending himself. Trump noted on Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was already present for meetings with NATO counterparts, and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, intended to be in Istanbul on Friday for the anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks.
The negotiations between Zelenskyy and Putin are an attempt to broker a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, an issue that has been gnawing at the conscience of the international community for quite some time.
Putin was the one who first proposed restarting direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, a city straddling two continents, Asia and Europe. Zelenskyy promptly threw down the gauntlet, challenging the Russian leader to meet him personally in Turkey.
The Kremlin has announced that its delegation at the talks will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, and three other officials. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak reaffirmed Zelenskyy’s intention to sit only with the Russian leader.
Later on Thursday, Trump visited a U.S. installation in Qatar, a critical hub of American involvement in the Middle East. The President has used his four-day visit to Gulf states to pivot away from the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region.
After addressing U.S. troops, Trump traveled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, wrapping up the final leg of his Mideast tour. He visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a place of hallowed reverence where the UAE’s founder, Sheikh Zayed, rests eternally.
Trump’s praise of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a controversial figure tied to al-Qaida, raises eyebrows and stirs the pot of international diplomacy.
What are the broader implications of Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria? And how will this impact the tenuous balance of power in the Middle East? Despite the complexity of the situation, one thing is clear – the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Remember, the decisions of a few can impact the lives of many. As I sit here, reflecting on these unfolding events, I can’t help but wonder, is diplomacy still the best policy?
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