Reuters: Trump has decided on representatives for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul.

High-ranking US officials Steve Vitkoff and Keith Kellogg plan to visit Istanbul on Thursday for possible negotiations regarding an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Three sources familiar with their plans reported this.

According to Reuters, it is still unknown whether representatives of the Russian government will participate in the negotiations. An American representative noted that she does not expect any announcements from Moscow before Thursday morning.

President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the negotiations this week only if Russian President Vladimir Putin is present, said an assistant to the Ukrainian leader, urging the Kremlin to show seriousness regarding peace intentions.

Moscow has not yet confirmed whether Putin will travel to Turkey. When asked about the Russian representatives, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied: 'As soon as the president deems it necessary, we will announce it.'

Position of the USA and the EU

Donald Trump stated that he is ready to fly to Istanbul if necessary. He is currently in the Middle East, where he is holding meetings with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

The US hopes that Russia will agree to a full-scale 30-day ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea, including critical infrastructure. This initiative is supported by Europe.

If Russia refuses, the EU threatens new sanctions, including against its 'shadow fleet.' This was reported by representatives of the US and the EU.

Vitkoff also assessed the chances of progress during the summit with possible participation from Putin and Zelensky.

A Trump administration representative told CNN that the situation is 'very dynamic,' and no one knows what to expect on Thursday. According to him, Trump's participation 'puts strong pressure on Putin.'