Donald Trump (L) and Russia’s Vladimir Putin arrive to attend a joint press convention after a gathering on the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobnov | Afp | Getty Photographs
Hopes that Ukraine and Russia’s leaders would meet for peace talks in Turkey on Thursday have been dashed as Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and White Home counterpart Donald Trump opted to skip the journey.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had come below stress from Trump to take part in talks in Istanbul, however had mentioned he would solely accomplish that if the Russian president was current.
Russian President Putin had signaled final Sunday that he was prepared to carry “direct negotiations” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky “with none preconditions” in Istanbul this week.
The Russian chief had not confirmed if he would attend the talks in particular person, nevertheless, and Putin’s identify was notably absent when the Kremlin confirmed the delegation it could be sending to Istanbul late on Wednesday night.
The Kremlin had been coy on whether or not the Russian president would attend the talks, with Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov sidestepping reporters’ questions on the subject. When requested on Wednesday if Putin can be travelling to Turkey, the spokesperson responded that the president had “work conferences” as a substitute.
The Kremlin mentioned the delegation can be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and included Deputy International Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Deputy Protection Minister Alexander Fomin, in addition to senior navy official Igor Kostyukov.
After the Kremlin’s announcement, a senior White Home official instructed NBC Information that senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, in addition to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, can be touring to Istanbul for talks — whereas Trump wouldn’t be travelling to Turkey.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has expressed scepticism over the talks this week, commenting on Wednesday that he was nonetheless “ready to see who will come from Russia, after which I’ll determine which steps Ukraine ought to take. To date, the alerts from them within the media are unconvincing,” he mentioned on the X social media platform.
Kyiv had come below stress to take part in discussions after Trump on Sunday mentioned that Ukraine ought to agree to fulfill Russia “instantly.”
“At the very least they’ll be capable of decide whether or not or not a deal is feasible,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social media platform.
“If it isn’t, European leaders, and the U.S., will know the place all the pieces stands, and might proceed accordingly!” Trump mentioned he was “beginning to doubt that Ukraine will make a take care of Putin” earlier than exclaiming, “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”
It is unsure whether or not Zelenskyy will nonetheless attend the talks, that are reportedly attributable to begin round 10 a.m. Moscow time, now that Putin and Trump will not be current.
Andrii Yermak, the top of Zelenskyy’s workplace, was anticipated to attend the negotiations, however there was no official affirmation that he’s nonetheless collaborating. Zelenskyy is because of meet Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday.
