Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a four-day tour of the Gulf - and a potential dramatic intervention in proposed peace talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
The US president, who campaigned for the presidency on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine on “day one”, touched down in Riyadh at the start of his first major diplomatic trip since he began his second term in the White House in January.
The first leg of a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE will see Trump attend a lavish state dinner later on Tuesday after meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
But it is a possible trip to Istanbul on Thursday that has grabbed the headlines.
Speaking on Monday night about the proposed meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian presidents in the Turkish city on Thursday, Trump said: "I was thinking about flying over.
“I don't know where I am going (to) be on Thursday. I've got so many meetings. There's a possibility there I guess, if I think things can happen."
The Ukrainian president backed the prospect of Trump attending a proposed Turkish meeting between him and his Russian counterpart.
Mr Zelensky said: "I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet.
Ukraine has always supported diplomacy. I am ready to come to Türkiye. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 12, 2025
Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the… pic.twitter.com/4AGiLX5Sdf
"And of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Turkey."
But Moscow has so far refused to say who, if anyone, would be travelling to Istanbul from the Russian side.
"Overall, we're determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
On Saturday, Britain and European Union allies demanded Russia accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire following a gathering in Kyiv.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "If he (Putin) is serious about peace, then he has a chance to show it. If Putin turns his back on peace, we will respond.”
However, Putin rejected the “ultimatums” and called for direct negotiations with Ukraine in Turkey, an initiative embraced by the United States.
All of Ukraine would appreciate it if Trump could be there with us
Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to host EU peers on Monday to discuss support for Ukraine and greater regional defence cooperation in the run-up to a summit hosted by the PM next week.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine on Monday night into Tuesday, launching more than 100 drones, the Ukrainian army claimed.
