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.
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Trump's schedule
If you're just joining us, here is a quick look at President Trump's schedule today.
He is expected to have lunch with CEOs. There will then be bilateral meetings and agreement signings, the BBC reports.
Trump is also scheduled to give an address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum.
Later, he will attend a state dinner in Riyadh.
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Who all are attending lunch with the Saudis?
Here is the full list of Donald Trump's delegation, guests and business leaders that will join Saudi officials for lunch shortly.
Credit: Reuters Trump's delegation
- Marco Rubio, secretary of state
- Pete Hegseth, defence secretary
- Scott Bessent, treasury secretary
- Howard Lutnick, commerce secretary
- Chris Wright, energy secretary
- Susie Wiles, chief of staff
- Steve Witkoff, special envoy
- Dan Sacavino, deputy chief of staff
- Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff
- James Blair, deputy chief of staff
- Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff
- Alison Dilworth, chargee d'affaires
- David Sacks, chair of council of advisers on science and technology
- Michael Kratsios, director of office on science and technology policy
- Eric Trager, national security council senior director
- Alex Wang, businessman
- Chase Robinson, Smithsonian's national park
- Brandie Smith, Smithsonian's national park
- Kimbal Musk, businessman, Elon Musk's brother
- John Elkann, chair of Stellantis
- Cristiano Amon, chief executive of Qualcomm
Trump's guests
- Gianni Infantino, FIFA president
- Antonio Gracias, escort of Elon Musk
- Larin Darir, escort of Elon Musk
Businessmen and businesswomen
- Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX
- Stephen A Schwarzman, chief executive of Blackstone Group
- Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock
- Jenny Johnson, president and chief executive of Franklin Templeton Investment
- Arvind Krishna, chairman and chief executive of IBM
- Jane Fraser, chief executive of Citicorp
- Michael O'Grady, chairman and chief executive of Northern Trust
- Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive of Boeing
- Ruth Porat, president and CIO of Google
- Andy Jassy, chief executive of Amazon
- Ben Horowitz, general partner of a16z
- Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI
- Jensen Huang, president and chief executive of NVIDIA
- Alex Karp, co-founder and chief executive of Palantir
- Lorenzo Simonelli, chief executive of Baker Hughes
- Jeff Miller, chief executive of Halliburton
- Olivier Le Peuch, chief executive of Schlumberger
- Dina Powell, vice chairman of BDT and MSD
- Ray Dalio, managing the family office
- Marcelo Claure, managing the family office
- Travis Kalanick, former Uber chief executive and founder of Cloud Kitchens
- Neil Blue, managing the family office
- Jon Ballis, services chairman of Kirkland and Ellis
- Jake Silverstein, chief executive of Enfield Investment Partners
- Tim Sweeney, chief executive of Epic Games
- Kathy Warden, chairman of Northrop Grumman
- James Quincey, chief executive of Coca-Cola
- Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of Uber Technologies
- Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami
- William Oplinger, chief executive of Alcoa
- William Meaney, chief executive of Iron Mountain
- Reid Hoffman, executive chairman of Linkedin
Musk seen in Saudi Arabia
Trump's pal Elon Musk is also on a trip to Saudi Arabia and is among numerous VIP guests attending the lunch in Riyadh's royal court.
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Seats of power
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Credit: Getty In Pictures: Trump meets Saudi delegations
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Credit: AP Arrival ceremony to begin shortly
Trump has arrived Royal Court of Saudi Arabia in a motorcade to attend a lavish arrival ceremony.
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Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries' increasing geopolitical role
Trump's decision to bypass traditional Western allies to travel first to the Gulf states underscores their increasingly crucial geopolitical role in the world.
His close relationship with the Saudis contrasts with a more hesitant initial approach by former president Joe Biden, who had vowed to punish the crown prince after US intelligence found that he ordered the murder of Saudi dissident and US resident Jamal Khashoggi.
Since Khashoggi's gruesome 2018 killing, Saudi Arabia has worked aggressively to change its image, from easing restrictions on women to pursuing initiatives in new areas such as artificial intelligence.
Saudi Arabia has also increasingly exercised diplomatic clout, serving as a neutral venue for the United States to pursue talks with Ukraine and Russia.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also sought outsized international roles, with the Qataris serving as the go-between for US-brokered diplomacy between Israel and Hamas.
But the focus during the tour of the Gulf will likely be locking down business agreements rather than diplomacy.
Trump's schedule for the day
President Trump seems to have a long list of agendas for the day.
After landing in Saudi Arabia and being greeted by the Crown Prince, Trump is expected to take part in a coffee ceremony along with other delegates.
He is then expected to attend bilateral meetings between the US and Saudi delegations.
At the end of the day, Trump will attend a lavish state dinner in Riyadh.
Credit: AP Trump receives lavish gift before trip to Middle East
Trump is poised to accept a luxury plane dubbed the "flying palace" as a gift from Qatar's royal family.
This elaborate gift, which was expected to be announced this week, could be the most expensive ever given by a foreign power to the United States.
The $400 million (£300 million) jumbo jet will be available to be used as a new "Air Force One" for much of Trump's remaining term in office.
After this, it would be transferred Trump Presidential Library Foundation by 2029, according to US media reports.
The gift was expected to be announced this week during the president's visit to Qatar, but Trump appeared to confirm it on social media.
Trump kicks off his Middle East tour
Trump begins a multi-nation tour of the Gulf region focused on expanding economic ties and reinforcing security cooperation with key US allies.
Trump is expected to discuss Iran's nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more during his time in Saudi Arabia.
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Credit: AP Saudi prince gives royal welcome to Trump
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed President Trump to the kingdom as the US leader began a four-day Middle East tour.
The personal greeting underscores the close relationship the de facto ruler of the kingdom wants to have with the American leader.
The crown prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner and a gathering of members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later on Tuesday.
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Credit: AP Trump seen getting out of Air Force One
Credit: AP Fighter jets escort Air Force One
Saudi F-15 fighter jets escort Air Force One carrying President Donald Trump as it arrives in Saudi Arabia.
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Credit: AP Carpet rolled out for Trump
Donald Trump lands in Riyadh
Donald Trump has just landed in Saudi Arabia to kick off his pivotal three-day tour of the Middle East.
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