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's timings today
8am: Trump has a meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders at the Ritz Carlton, Riyadh.
9:30am: Trump leaves the Ritz Carlton and heads for King Khalid International Airport.
10:15am: The US President departs from Saudi Arabia and jets off to Qatar.
11:30am: Touchdown in Qatar, arriving at Hamad International Airport.
12pm: The president arrived at Amiri Diwan, the government office in Doha.
5:45pm: Trump takes part in a Qatari State Dinner at Lusail Palace.
Trump set to accept luxury Qatari jet TODAY
Trump ‘to accept luxury Palace in the Sky Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatari royals’ in most expensive gift ever to USWho is Syria's leader set to meet Trump?
Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa are due to have a face-to-face meeting later today in Saudi Arabia.
But al Sharaa already has a marred history with the US.
The new Syrian leader once spent years imprisoned by US forces after he was captured in Iraq.
Formerly known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, al Sharaa joined al Qaeda insurgents 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 said he agreed to meet with al Sharaa after being encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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Credit: AP
Trump's schedule for Wednesday
US President Donald Trump is set to continue his tour of the Middle East today by staying in Saudi Arabia before jetting off to Qatar.
After a positive meeting and blockbuster business deal with the Saudis, Trump is now due to meet with Syria's new leader.
He will speak with interim Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa in Riyadh in the morning.
Later today, Trump will fly to the Doha - Qatar's capital - to take part in a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and other top officials.
In pictures: Celebrations continue across Syria after Trump announced end to sanctions
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty In pictures: Celebrations continue across Syria after Trump announced end to sanctions
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Inside US-Saudi arms deal
The US has announced it has signed “the largest defence sales agreement in history” with Saudi Arabia - but what does this mean?
According to the White House, the $142bn deal includes:
- Air force advancement and space capabilities
- Air and missile defence
- Maritime and coastal security
- Border security and land forces modernisation
- Information and communication systems upgrade
Trump's speech compared to 'renewing vows'
Donald Trump's historic speech in Riyadh will be remembered as "very favourable," it's been claimed.
Editor of Arab News Fasial Abbas said the US President communicated "very important messages" and looked like a "true statesman and man of peace".
He told The World with Yalda Hakim: "I think everybody left the room feeling that this visit, this speech, has been about tomorrow, about the future, about the next 80 years.
"And from what we've heard today, it's going to be very positive."
What is Trump doing on Wednesday?
President Trump's tour of the Middle East continues on Wednesday.
He is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after announcing he would end sanctions on the country on Tuesday.
The Republican will then leave Saudi Arabia after he revealed a whopping $600bn strategic economic deal between Washington and Riyadh.
Trump will then fly to Qatar where it is thought he will accept a free plane to replace Air Force One - gifted from the Qatari royal family.
Mobile McDonald's provided for Trump in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia appears to have made Trump feel at home in Saudi Arabia by providing a mobile McDonald's truck.
The US President is known for loving fast food and even put on an apron and served customers at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania during his election campaign.
Credit: X In pictures: Syrians celebrate Trump decision in Damascus
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Credit: AP 
Credit: AP In pictures: Syrians celebrate Trump decision in Damascus
Credit: AFP Credit: Reuters Credit: AP Credit: AP Trump speaks to released Israeli-American hostage over the phone
Donald Trump has spoken on the phone with released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.
The White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted a photo on X showing Trump talking into his phone in Riyadh.
Edan, 21, an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the US, was abducted from his base during the terrorist raid 583 days ago.
Trump on the phone to Edan Alexander In pictures: Trump's first day in Middle East tour
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Credit: AP 
Credit: Getty Decision to remove US sanctions marks 'new start' for Syria, foreign minister says
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has said that the decision to remove US sanctions marks a "new start" in Syria's path to reconstruction.
He wrote on X: "Thanks to the positions of our brothers, led by Saudi Arabia, we are turning a new page toward a future worthy of the Syrian people and their history."
Trump is moving to normalise relations with the country to give the new government “a chance at peace”.
He said he made the decision after talking with MBS and Turkey’s leader Erdogan.
When Trump made the announcement he received a large applause from the audience.
Later this week, his Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Syria’s foreign minister.
In pictures: Trump arrives for tour of Saudi UNESCO site
Credit: AFP via Getty Images 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: AP In pictures: Trump arrives for tour of Saudi UNESCO site
Credit: AFP via Getty Images Credit: Getty Credit: AP Trump calls on Fed to cut rates
President Trump has made another call for the US Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.
While on his tour in Saudi Arabia, he took to Truth Social to say prices for gas, groceries, and "practically everything else" are down.
He said: "No Inflation, and Prices of Gasoline, Energy, Groceries, and practically everything else, are DOWN!!! THE FED must lower the RATE, like Europe and China have done.
"What is wrong with Too Late Powell? Not fair to America, which is ready to blossom? Just let it all happen, it will be a beautiful thing!," he added, repeating his criticism of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
Trump to meet with Syrian leader TOMORROW, White House reveals
President Trump is to "say hello" to the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa tomorrow, who is also going to be in Saudi Arabia, a White House official has said.
It came shortly before Trump revealed that he will order the end of sanctions on Syria after the new regime overthrew the Assad family.
He’s moving to normalise relations with the country to give the new government “a chance at peace”.
He said he made the decision after talking with MBS and Turkey’s leader Erdogan.
When Trump made the announcement he received a large applause from the audience.
Later this week, his Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Syria’s foreign minister.
Trump hoped that Saudi Arabia would soon join the Abraham Accords
President Trump spoke of his hopes that Saudi Arabia would soon join the Abraham Accords - various agreements aimed at normalising relations between Israel and Arab countries.
Before the October 7 attacks, Saudi Arabia appeared willing to join the accords.
Trump said it will be a "special day" when "Saudi Arabia joins us, and you'll be greatly honouring me and you'll be greatly honouring all of those people that have fought so hard for the Middle East".
He added that it's his "fervent hope" that Saudi Arabia would sign its own normalisation agreement with Israel - but "you'll do it in your own time".
Marco Rubio to attend Ukraine-Russia talks this week, Trump reveals
President Trump revealed that his team will be in Turkey this week for expected crunch talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
He added that Marco Rubio will be in attendance on Thursday as the US hope the talks could "produce some good results".
Earlier, a senior White House official confirmed to NBC News that envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg would also attend the talks with Rubio.
Trump says people of Gaza 'deserve better future'
Trump said that the people of Gaza "deserve a better future" in his speech, but added that this cannot occur "as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men, women and children for political ends".
The President added that "all civilised people must condemn the October 7 atrocities against Israel" which he believes wouldn't have happened if he were in power at the time.
His comments came after the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander yesterday.
Saudi Aramco to sign deal with US gas producer
Saudi Aramco will sign on Tuesday memoranda of understanding with U.S. liquefied natural gas producer NextDecade and utility firm Sempra , Aramco's chief executive said, as the oil giant expands in the LNG market.
"The U.S. today, in terms of gas, is almost 100 billion (dollars) in sales ... and it is continuously increasing," Aramco's CEO Amin Nasser told the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh.
"The U.S. is really a good place to put our investment," he added, noting that under the MoUs Sempra and NextDecade would supply around 6.2 million tons of LNG to Aramco.
The United States is already the world's largest exporter of LNG and producers have plans in place that would double capacity in coming years.
Trump to end Syrian sanctions
Trump has revealed that he will order the end of sanctions on Syria after the new regime overthrew the Assad family.
He's moving to normalise relations with the country to give the new government "a chance at peace".
He said he made the decision after talking with MBS and Turkey's leader Erdogan.
When Trump made the announcement he received a large applause from the audience.
Later this week, his Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Syria's foreign minister.
Trump compares Saudi with Iran
Donald Trump has sought to contrast the success of Saudi Arabia with a declining Iran in his marquee speech.
He said: "The biggest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unthinkable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and beyond."
In contrast, he has talked up Saudi Arabia's economic success and their ability to build giant skyscrapers.