Russian President Vladimir Putin is just not among the many names listed by the Kremlin as being because of attend peace talks on the warfare in Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, regardless of calls from Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky for him to attend.
Russia’s delegation will as a substitute be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, in accordance with the Kremlin assertion.
Zelensky had beforehand mentioned he would attend the talks and meet Putin in particular person if the Russian president agreed, and mentioned he would do every little thing he might to make sure the face-to-face assembly befell.
US President Donald Trump will even not be attending, in accordance with media reviews, regardless of beforehand hinting he would if Putin have been there.
Zelensky can be within the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday to satisfy President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He mentioned he would attend direct talks in Istanbul with Russia, however provided that Putin additionally attended.
“I’m ready to see who will come from Russia, after which I’ll determine which steps Ukraine ought to take. Thus far, the indicators from them within the media are unconvincing,” he mentioned in his nightly video deal with on Wednesday.
Putin and Zelensky haven’t met in particular person since December 2019. Russia and Ukraine final held direct negotiations in March 2022 in Istanbul, shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
Combating has raged in Ukraine since then. Russian forces have slowly expanded the quantity of territory they management over the previous 12 months, largely within the east of Ukraine.
On Sunday Putin referred to as for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey’s largest metropolis “with out pre-conditions”. Zelensky then introduced he would go in particular person and anticipated the Russian president to journey as effectively.
Putin’s suggestion of direct talks in Istanbul adopted Western powers’ name for a 30-day ceasefire, after European leaders met in Kyiv on Saturday.
After Trump referred to as for Ukraine to simply accept the supply on Sunday, Zelensky mentioned he would journey there himself.
“There isn’t a level in prolonging the killings. And I can be ready for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Zelensky wrote in a social media publish.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had floated the potential of becoming a member of the assembly himself if Putin did.
The US president, who’s presently in Qatar, advised reporters he didn’t know if his Russian counterpart would attend “if I am not there”.
“I do know he would love me to be there, and that is a risk. If we might finish the warfare, I would be fascinated about that,” Trump mentioned.
The US is anticipated to ship a high-level delegation to the talks.
The nation’s high diplomat, Marco Rubio, arrived in Turkey on Wednesday, the place he’ll meet Nato overseas ministers on Thursday.
Forward of that assembly, Ukraine’s Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned he met Rubio on Wednesday night. Sybiha mentioned he had reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to US peace efforts, and referred to as on Russia to “reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps”.
Rubio plans to journey onwards to Istanbul on Friday, the place the State Division says he’ll attend talks with European counterparts to debate the warfare in Ukraine.
Arriving at his resort in Antalya on Wednesday, Rubio didn’t reply when the BBC requested him if Putin can be coming to Turkey.
Since returning to the White Home, President Trump has sought to dealer a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
He ended a years-long Western boycott of Russia’s chief by talking to Putin over the cellphone in February, and his envoy Steve Witkoff has met Vladimir Putin for talks in Moscow.
Trump has beforehand mentioned Russia and Ukraine have been “very near a deal”.
On Sunday, when Putin proposed the direct talks, Trump posted on his Fact Social platform: “A doubtlessly nice day for Russia and Ukraine!”
