Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, dealing a setback to hopes for a breakthrough in peace negotiations.
Instead, Putin sent a delegation of aides and deputy ministers to talks in Istanbul on Thursday, while US President Donald Trump, on a Gulf tour, cast doubt on progress by insisting that a meeting between himself and Putin was essential.
Zelensky criticised Putin’s decision to send what he termed a “decorative” delegation, accusing the Russian leader of not being serious about ending the conflict.
In response, Zelensky announced that he would not travel to Istanbul but would dispatch a team led by his defence minister to discuss a potential ceasefire. The timing of the talks remains unclear.
“We can’t be running around the world looking for Putin,” Zelensky said after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. He expressed frustration at what he perceived as Russia’s disrespect, saying, “No meeting time, no agenda, no high-level delegation – this is personal disrespect. To Erdogan, to Trump.”
While Zelensky supports an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire, Putin has insisted on preliminary discussions to outline the terms of such a truce.
Russia, holding a battlefield advantage more than three years after its full-scale invasion, argues that Ukraine could exploit a ceasefire to bolster its forces with Western support.
Despite months of expressing willingness to meet, both Trump and Putin have yet to set a date. Trump, increasingly frustrated, remarked aboard Air Force One: “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” His unpredictable stance has added confusion to an already strained diplomatic environment, with European allies expressing dismay.
While the Russian delegation waited in Istanbul without their Ukrainian counterparts, Trump suggested he might attend the talks if deemed “appropriate”. The lack of coordination highlighted the ongoing tension between the warring parties and the unpredictable role Trump has played since resuming his presidency.
As negotiations continue, deep divides persist over key issues. Russia, now controlling nearly a fifth of Ukraine, remains adamant that Kyiv cede territory, abandon its NATO ambitions, and adopt neutrality – conditions Ukraine deems unacceptable. Zelensky, seeking security guarantees from global powers, particularly the US, has shown his willingness to negotiate, but with Putin absent, progress remains elusive.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot criticised Putin’s absence, stating, “Putin is stalling and clearly has no desire to enter these peace negotiations, even when President Trump expressed his availability and his desire to facilitate these negotiations.”
Adding to the tense atmosphere, Estonia accused Russia of breaching NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during a confrontation involving a Russian-bound oil tanker suspected of evading Western sanctions.
Boluwatife Enome
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