Thu Feb 27 21:13:50 UTC 2025: **Trump Positions Himself as Key Player in Ukraine Peace Talks as US and Russia Hold Embassy Talks**
ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON D.C. – Amidst a thaw in US-Russia relations, diplomats from both countries held over six hours of talks in Istanbul on Thursday aimed at normalizing the functioning of their respective embassies. The discussions, held at the US consul general’s residence, focused on resolving issues such as staffing levels, visa procedures, and diplomatic banking, with the Ukrainian conflict explicitly excluded from the agenda. A US State Department official stated that the talks would reveal whether Russia is genuinely committed to good-faith engagement.
The meeting comes as President Vladimir Putin expressed hope for restored US-Russia relations, praising the Trump administration’s “pragmatism and realistic view.” This follows a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, and a subsequent meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (though the article names Rubio, this seems to be an error, as he is a Senator, not the Secretary of State) in Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to begin discussions on a potential Ukraine peace deal – notably without Ukrainian involvement.
This rapprochement has raised concerns among Ukraine and its allies, who fear a potential deal that marginalizes Kyiv and undermines their security interests. President Trump, however, has presented himself as the primary mediator, boasting of his strong relationships with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He further emphasized a new agreement granting the US access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals, framing it as a sufficient security guarantee for Ukraine, rendering further security commitments unnecessary. Trump expressed confidence in Russia’s commitment to any resulting peace agreement. Zelenskyy is expected to sign the mineral agreement on Friday.
First Piper 