Trump headed for Istanbul? ‘Leaving tomorrow, destination unknown’ hint sparks buzz

President Donald Trump again teased his possible attendance in Istanbul for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks on Friday

Published on: May 16, 2025, 02:35:15 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump again teased his possible attendance in Istanbul for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks on Friday. Speaking to reporters from the United Arab Emirates, his final stop of the Middle East trip, the 78-year-old was asked where he was heading next. The president sparked buzz with his ‘destination unknown’ comment.

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing the guest book at Qasr Al-Watan (Palace of the Nation) in Abu Dhabi (AFP)

Responding to a question by a reporter in the UAE, Trump said, "We'll be leaving tomorrow. It's almost 'destination unknown'. We're getting calls, 'could you be here? Could you be there?' But we're probably going back to Washington, DC."

There is no Turkey trip mentioned on Trump's schedule yet. On Wednesday, White House officials clarified that the president will not attend the Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul.

This comes after the Kremlin left out Russian President Vladimir Putin's name from the delegation attending the talks, signaling for the first time that Putin will not be in Turkey. Trump had previously said that the Russian president would ‘like me to be there’.

After the Kremlin released the list, White House officials told CNN that President Trump will not take a flight to Istanbul. They added that changing the 78-year-old's schedule would be a ‘logistical nightmare’.

On Wednesday, when asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins onboard Air Force One, Trump said Putin would ‘like me to be there, and that’s a possibility. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it to save a lot of lives and come back’.

He continued, “I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there.” Trump first said on Monday that he was considering flying into Turkey for the peace talks: “There’s a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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