ussian President Vladimir Putin is not going to be attending the Russia-Ukraine peace talks scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, regardless of calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and diplomatic nudges from international leaders, together with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Late Wednesday, the Kremlin printed an inventory of eight delegates—4 negotiators and 4 consultants—who will signify Moscow within the talks. Putin, who had proposed the Istanbul assembly “with none preconditions” on Sunday, didn’t embody himself among the many contributors.
Russia names delegation with navy, intelligence officers
The Russian delegation, introduced through a decree on the Kremlin web site, consists of:
- Vladimir Medinsky, presidential adviser and former tradition minister, seen as a hawkish determine
- Alexander Fomin, Deputy Defence Minister
- Igor Kostyukov, Director of the GRU (Russia’s International Army Intelligence Company)
All three beforehand participated within the short-lived negotiations held in 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky: ‘Alerts to date are unconvincing’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remained cautious in regards to the upcoming talks, stating on Wednesday night time that Kyiv would wait to substantiate the composition of Russia’s delegation earlier than figuring out its subsequent transfer.
“I’m ready to see who will arrive from Russia after which I’ll decide what steps Ukraine ought to take. The alerts within the media to date are unconvincing,” Zelensky stated in his nightly deal with.
He additionally criticised Russia’s continued aggression regardless of the proposed talks: “It’s now extra apparent to all the world than at some other level through the full-scale conflict… that the one impediment to establishing peace is the dearth of a transparent will from Russia to take action.”
Trump declines to attend
US President Donald Trump, who had prompt earlier this week that he would possibly journey to Turkey if Putin have been attending, confirmed via a US official on Wednesday that he wouldn’t be becoming a member of the talks.
Trump has proposed a 30-day ceasefire between the 2 international locations and urged either side to comply with phrases rapidly. He’s reportedly pissed off with the dearth of dedication from each Moscow and Kyiv.
“I am all the time contemplating secondary sanctions towards Moscow if I feel they’re blocking the method,” Trump stated.
Lula urges Putin to affix talks
Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke to Putin by telephone on Wednesday and personally urged him to attend the Istanbul negotiations.
Lula “emphasised Brazil’s dedication to peace and as soon as once more made himself out there to collaborate in no matter manner obligatory within the seek for understanding between Russia and Ukraine,” in response to a press release from his workplace.
Earlier talks and standoff
This week’s negotiations are seen as a continuation of the 2022 Istanbul talks, which collapsed with out decision. A gathering between Putin and Zelensky would have been their first since December 2019.
The diplomatic standoff has taken on a symbolic tone, with Zelensky signaling he would solely attend if Putin confirmed up—framing it as a litmus check of who needs peace extra.
