This Week’s Top Stories: Russia “Ready for Eternal War,” and Arabs Shower Trump with Billions

Assalomu alaykum. Today is Sunday, May 18. The week behind us will be remembered primarily for the start of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. However, the talks were not as serious as expected. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump was showered with money during his tour of Arab countries. Let’s take a look at the most important events of the week.

Istanbul Negotiations

On May 16, Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in three years, hosted by Turkey in Istanbul. The meeting was initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kyiv agreed, and President Zelensky personally traveled to Turkey with top-level officials. However, Putin did not attend. Instead, his aide Vladimir Medinsky led the Russian delegation—just like three years ago.

Disappointed by Russia’s approach, Zelensky also chose not to attend the talks himself and sent a delegation at the deputy minister level. As a result, the talks were not serious, and no agreements were reached regarding an end to the war.

Russia Threatens to Take Sumy and Kharkiv

Since the Istanbul talks were the most important event of the week, we must dwell on them further. According to The Economist journalist and a Ukrainian MP, during the negotiations in Turkey, Medinsky threatened that Russia could also seize Sumy and Kharkiv regions. He told Ukrainian delegation head Umerov that Russia was ready for eternal war, noting that Russia once fought Sweden for 21 years:

“How long can you fight?” Medinsky asked the Ukrainian delegation.

Russia Refused a Ceasefire

Ukraine entered the negotiations with the hope of securing at least a temporary ceasefire. However, the Russian side refused to even discuss this matter. Later, Medinsky explained in an interview with a Russian TV channel that "wars and negotiations always go in parallel." He claimed that those suggesting stopping the war first and then negotiating "do not know history."

Trump Showered with Arab Money

As part of his first foreign tour, U.S. President Donald Trump visited three Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. He was received with lavish hospitality, including camel processions and traditional dances by women. But more impressive than the receptions were the deals signed. Saudi Arabia signed agreements worth $600 billion, and the UAE and Qatar signed deals exceeding $1 trillion.

These agreements included military cooperation, aircraft purchases, and investments in artificial intelligence. The scale of the deals was so massive that rumors spread suggesting the Arab countries were investing to influence Trump to recognize Palestine. Considering Israeli PM Netanyahu’s recent frustration with Trump, such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

Trump Meets Al-Julani

We must also mention a truly unique event—Trump’s meeting with Abu Muhammad al-Julani, who is now known as Ahmad al-Shar’a, the current leader of Syria. Until recently, Washington considered him one of the world’s most dangerous terrorists and had placed a bounty on his head. But now, the U.S. President shook his hand and announced that sanctions on Syria would be lifted. Trump thus indicated that Syria would be given an opportunity.

Meeting with Trump effectively legitimized al-Julani. There are now no more barriers to Syria’s development—what remains is to seize this opportunity and develop like a modern state.

Trump–Putin Meeting Likely

During the week, it became clear from statements in Istanbul and Arabia that the war in Ukraine could only end through a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Initially, Trump had planned to go to Istanbul, but when he learned Putin wasn’t coming, his rhetoric changed:

“If I didn’t go, of course he wouldn’t either,” Trump said on his plane while returning from Saudi Arabia.

Trump had sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Turkey to attend the negotiations, but that didn’t happen either—Russia did not send any diplomats of equal rank. Rubio then stated openly:

“Nothing will be resolved unless Trump and Putin meet.”

When asked by reporters about a possible date for his meeting with Putin, Trump replied that perhaps after his trip to the UAE, he might meet him—“but for now, I want to go home and see my newborn grandchild,” he said. He added that the meeting might happen in 2–3 weeks. So, we got a new deadline from Trump.

Another possible meeting was also discussed this week—between Zelensky and Putin. But in my opinion, that will never happen. Putin wants to settle everything directly with Trump.

These were the key headlines of the week. Of course, many events happened around the world, but the first direct Russia–Ukraine talks in three years, and Trump’s series of meetings with Arab leaders amid the Gaza conflict, overshadowed everything else.
Right now, there is nothing more important in the world than ending the two major wars—Ukraine and Gaza. Let’s hope next week brings us closer to peace…


Photo collage: Kun.uz Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!