United States President Donald Trump has opted out of the much-anticipated peace talks in Turkey aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, citing a personal family milestone—the birth of his new grandchild.
Speaking during an engagement in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, Trump revealed that his daughter, Tiffany Trump, had just welcomed a baby. The former president expressed a strong desire to return to Washington immediately to meet the newest addition to his family.
“I want to get back home to see my grandchild,” Trump said. “Tiffany just had a baby, and I can’t wait to hold the child.”
Trump also commented on his intent to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, suggesting that real progress in the peace process can only begin when both leaders sit face-to-face.
“I’ll meet with Putin as soon as we can make it happen,” he stated. “But I won’t be at the Turkey meeting. I should have left last night, but I didn’t want to let my hosts in Abu Dhabi down.”
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There had been speculation that Trump might make a surprise appearance at the Friday summit in Turkey, where international leaders are convening to discuss ways to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, he has now confirmed that he will not attend.
Emphasizing the urgency of peace, Trump lamented the human cost of the war.
“About 5,000 young people are dying every week. We have to end this. We will end this,” he said.
The U.S. president’s decision to prioritize family over geopolitics has drawn mixed reactions, even as global focus remains on efforts to find a resolution to one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century.