Putin is expected to miss the talks in Turkey, as per reports. In his place, a delegation consisting of aides and deputy ministers has been sent to engage with their Ukrainian counterparts.
The Russian team arrived in Turkey on Thursday, May 15, seemingly disregarding Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal for Putin’s direct participation, reported News18.Read more: Russia-Ukraine peace talks: All to know about the possible discussion in Turkey
Zelensky calls for Putin’s presence
Ukrainian President Zelensky has reiterated his country’s readiness to engage in any format of talks to end the ongoing conflict. “Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations, and we are not afraid of meetings,” Zelensky stated, as per News18.
He also added a condition to his participation in the Istanbul talks, emphasising that he would attend only if Putin was also present.
“I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia. Then only I will decide what steps Ukraine should take,” he added.
Putin had put forward a proposal of direct talks with Ukraine on Sunday, May 11.
Uncertainty over meeting’s time
While TASS reported that discussions were scheduled to begin at 0700 GMT, a Ukrainian official dismissed the claim, saying that no agreement had been reached regarding the exact timing, as per Reuters. The discrepancy highlights the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the framework of the negotiations.
Despite the high-stakes nature of the meeting, the absence of both heads of state – Putin and Zelensky – sheds doubt on how far the current round of negotiations will go in resolving the conflict.
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