Trump Calls Putin and Zelenskyy ‘Boneheads’ Amid Peace Talks in Istanbul

Former US President Donald Trump has labeled both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy as ‘boneheads,’ expressing disappointment over the ongoing Russian bombings in Ukraine. Trump criticized both leaders while attempting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. When asked by reporters at the Oval Office if he believed Putin was a ‘bonehead,’ Trump revealed his surprise and dissatisfaction with the Russian attacks, emphasizing his efforts to broker a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on continuing peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul. The second round of talks is scheduled for June 2. Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of a ceasefire to achieve progress in resolving the conflict with Russia, stating, ‘There must be a ceasefire to move towards peace. The killing of people must stop.’ In a Telegram post following his communication with Erdogan, Zelenskyy added, ‘We share the view that this meeting should not be empty.’ Thoughts are also turning to a potential quadripartite summit involving Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the USA. Zelenskyy mentioned discussions about organizing such a meeting among the leaders of these nations. Erdogan noted that the planned second round of talks could pave the way for peace, stressing the importance of strong delegations from both sides and suggesting that a leader-level meeting after these discussions would further the peace process. Turkey continues its active efforts toward a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, satisfied with the positive outcomes of the May 16 talks in Istanbul and the swift prisoner exchange. A possible ceasefire decision during the upcoming talks would be a significant step towards peace, ensuring strong delegation participation. Finally, Erdogan emphasized that a leaders’ meeting following the delegations’ talks would contribute to the peace process and should occur without delay. On Friday, May 30, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan completed a two-day visit to Ukraine, following a similar trip to Moscow, focused on peace efforts in the Ukraine conflict. Besides consultations with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Fidan met with President Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Ruslan Omelchenko, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had announced Moscow’s proposal to resume talks on June 2 in Istanbul.