Putin REFUSES to meet Zelensky in Turkey for Ukraine peace talks despite Trump’s offer to bring Russian tyrant to table
VLADIMIR Putin has refused to meet brave Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey for Ukraine peace talks - despite President Trump's offer to bring the Russian tyrant to the table.
Zelensky had challenged the Russian dictator to meet him face-to-face to turn the screw and make a deal, but mad Vlad has instead made his latest dodge from peace.
The bombshell list for the Russian delegation at Thursday's meeting was released by the Kremlin - with Putin's name missing.
And a mere few minutes after it was established the tyrant wouldn't be in attendance, it was confirmed that Trump wouldn't be coming either after previously hinting he might.
It's unclear whether Zelensky will still go to Istanbul.
Speaking on Air Force One on Wednesday, Trump said: "[Putin] would like me to be there, and that’s a possibility.
"I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out."
Russia is still sending a troop of heavyweights - including a presidential advisor, top diplomat, and senior military and intelligence officials.
But if Putin were on the delegation list too, it would have marked a serious indication that he could be interested in ending the bloody war.
The Russian dictator last week proposed to hold direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday May 15 - but had then gone silent on his offer.
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Zelensky on Tuesday said he was willing to go to Turkey but only if Putin was also there.
Trump is currently in the Middle East as part of his first major tour since taking over the Oval Office.
He is currently in Qatar for a state visit.
It comes one day after Don inked the biggest arms deal in history to supply Saudi Arabia with $142bn worth of weapons, the White House said.
The sale is part of a landmark $600 billion deal with Jeddah that was signed after Trump landed in Riyadh to kickstart his Middle East tour on Tuesday.
The President has also taken a shot at rival Iran in a marquee speech, saying the Islamic Republic needed to make up its mind about whether it wanted to chase developing a nuclear weapon and get war or choose peace and a trading relationship.
It marks Trump's first state visit of his second administration, after Saudi Arabia was also the first state visit in 2016.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates:
Trump to speak in Doha shortly
Donald Trump is set to speak at a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar at the Old Amiri Palace in Doha.
Chairs are already lined up across the palace with officials - including Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent - waiting for Trump.
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Credit: Reuters Reaper drones, Patriot missiles and F-35 fighter jets… what is set to be in Trump’s $142bn Saudi arms deal war chest
Trump is a 'man of peace', says Qatar leader
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani dubbed Donald Trump a "man of peace".
"I know you want to bring peace to this region," he says.
Trump then said he has been friends with the emir for a "long time".
He added: "We have liked each other and we have worked with each other and now we can work in the highest capacity.
"We have some very good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow or possibly Friday. But we will see about that."
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Trump arrives at Qatar palace
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President Donald Trump and Qatarâs Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani take part in an official welcoming ceremonyCredit: AP 
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Credit: AP Trump says he's still open to attending talks on Ukraine
Trump today said he was still considering whether to attend talks on the war in Ukraine planned for Thursday in Turkey but he does not know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will go.
"He'd like me to be there, and that's a possibility. ... I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar.
He has said he may visit Turkey for the talks as part of his trip to the Middle East this week.
Russian president Vladimir Putin last week proposed to hold direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday May 15.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he is willing to go to Turkey but only if Putin was also there.
The Kremlin has not yet responded if Putin plans to go to Turkey.
Credit: Getty Qatar welcomes Trump for state visit
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Credit: Reuters Qatar Emiri Air Force F-15s provide an honorary escort for Trump
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Credit: AP Trump speaking to press on Air Force One
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Trump lands in Qatar
Trump's Air Force One has landed at Hamad International Airport in Qatar.
He will soon meet the country's leader Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as part of his state visit.
Next stop: Qatar
Donald Trump was seen boarding Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
He is going to fly to Qatar.
We are working to bring you all the live updates.
Credit: Getty Trump poses with MBS and al-Sharaa
Credit: AP Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must cease support of proxy groups as part of any nuclear deal
President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders that he urgently wants to make a deal with Iran to wind down its nuclear program, but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement.
Trump said: "[Iran] must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons.
"They cannot have a nuclear weapon."
The US and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran's nuclear program.
Trump has repeatedly said he believes brokering a deal is possible, but that the window is closing.
The president's strongly worded push on Iran to cease support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen come as its proxy network has faced significant setbacks in the 19 months since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump's remarks "deceitful" but did not directly address the US leader's call on Iran to cease support of proxy groups.
Credit: AFP Trump calls on Syria to join Israel normalisation accords
The US president urged his Syrian counterpart to normalise ties with Israel, deport Palestinian terrorists and take responsibility for prisons in northeastern Syria holding jihadists, the White House said.
In the first such talks with a Syrian leader in 25 years, Donald Trump asked Ahmed al-Sharaa to deport "Palestinian terrorists", "sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel" and "assume responsibility for ISIS detention centres in northeast Syria", a White House statement said.
In Pictures: Trump meets al-Sharaa
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Trump's demands for Syrian president
Trump told al-Sharaa that he has a "tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country", according to a readout released by the White House.
The US president had a list of five demands for him:
- Sign the Abraham Accords with Israel
- Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria
- Deport Palestinian terrorists
- Help the US prevent the resurgence of ISIS
- Assume responsibility for ISIS detention centres in Northeast Syria
Credit: AP Trump calls his election win 'the most consequential in 129 years'
The president said he wants to work "towards peace" in the Middle East to make the region "prosperous".
Trump says he has a 'special relationship' with 'thriving' Middle East
Trump said: "We have done a lot in these two days [and] it has been an honour to spend time.
The president also dubbed the Middle East the "envy of the world".
He said: "I see the things that you're doing here and in your countries, it's just incredible what you're doing and the whole world is talking about it.
"Together, we're in this room and we're going to forge a Middle East that will be a thriving commercial, diplomatic and cultural crossroads at the geographic centre of the world.
"That's what it is, the centre of the world."
Credit: AP Trump says 'I want to make a deal with Iran'
Donald Trump is now speaking in Saudi Arabia, where he took a dig at Joe Biden for "turning his back on the Gulf allies".
He said: "Biden had no capability. It is a shame what he did to so many countries.
"Those days are over. Everybody at the table knows where my loyalties lie."
Trump also said he "wants to make a deal" with Iran if it's possible.
"But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons," he added.
Credit: Getty Trump attends Gulf-US summit in Saudi Arabia
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Credit: Getty Why Trump meeting Syrian president is a moment of breakthrough for Middle East
Donald Trump's meeting with the interim Syrian president Ahemd al-Sharaa marks a remarkable shift of power in the Middle East.
The collapse of tyrant Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria - led by al-Sharaa - was a major political defeat for ally Iran, which held massive influence in the region through its network of terror proxies.
With the fall of the Assad regime, Arab nations like Saudi Arabia now have a shot at curbing Iranian influence in the region.
But the Arabs need a strong and stable political leadership to be established in Syria under al-Sharaa - one that could help restore security and fuel economic growth after years of devastating conflict.
And Trump could help facilitate that.
The US President lifted sanctions on Syria on Tuesday, which he argued would give the country a "chance at greatness" - and this paves the way for Arabs to invest in the war-torn country.
Trump and al-Sharaa's meeting joined by Turkish president
Turkey's leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has joined the meeting between Donald Trump and the Syrian president Ahemd al-Sharaa.
What's next on Trump's agenda for the day?
After meeting with the Syrian President, Trump will fly to Qatar to take part in a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and other top officials.
Trump meets Syrian president
Donald Trump is now meeting Syrian President and former jihaadi Ahmad al-Sharaa, says the White House.
It marks the first meeting between the US and Syria in 25 years.
But the Syrian leader has a marred history with the US.
For years, he was imprisoned by US forces after being captured in Iraq.
Formerly known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, al-Sharaa joined al-Qaeda terrorists fighting the US.
The US once even offered $10m for any information about his location.
Al Sharaa still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq.
Trump is currently in the Middle East as part of his first major tour since taking over the Oval Office.
What sanctions are on Syria?
The US is one of many countries that have placed sanctions on Syria during the former al-Assad regime.
The wide-ranging sanctions first came in 1979 when the country was designated as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism - leading to an arms embargo and financial restrictions.
After Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown on civilian protesters following the war in 2011, numerous sanctions were slapped on Syria and regime-linked individuals.
Syrian government assets held abroad were frozen, and US investments in Syria were banned.
The US had also announced a $10million reward for the capture of current Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
He ran Hayat Tahrir al-Sham before the fall of al-Assad's government, which the US had listed as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization”.