Retired Air Force Brig. General Blaine Holt and retired Army Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer told Newsmax on Thursday that President Donald Trump is “the only guy” who can bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy together to negotiate an end to the war between their two countries.

Putin didn’t show up on Thursday for proposed direct peace talks with Zelenskyy in Turkey, sending a Russian delegation to Istanbul in his stead. Zelenskyy was waiting for Putin in the capital, Ankara. after challenging the Russian leader to face-to-face negotiations.

Asked what happened in Turkey, Shaffer said, “There is no there, there and that’s what we saw.”

Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.