Putin and Trump depart Zelenskyy within the mud, skipping peace talks in Turkey

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 House counterpart Donald Trump opted to skip the go back and forth.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had come underneath force from Trump to take part in talks in Istanbul, however had stated he would best accomplish that if the Russian president was once provide.

Russian President Putin had signaled ultimate Sunday that he was once keen to carry “direct negotiations” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky “without any preconditions” in Istanbul this week.

The Russian chief had no longer showed if he would attend the talks in individual, alternatively, and Putin’s identify was once particularly absent when the Kremlin showed the delegation it might be sending to Istanbul overdue on Wednesday night.

The Kremlin have been coy on whether or not the Russian president would attend the talks, with Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov sidestepping newshounds’ questions at the subject. When requested on Wednesday if Putin could be travelling to Turkey, the spokesperson replied that the president had “work meetings” as a substitute.

The Kremlin stated the delegation could be led by means of presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and incorporated Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, in addition to senior army legit Igor Kostyukov.

After the Kremlin’s announcement, a senior White House legit advised NBC News that senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, in addition to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could be touring to Istanbul for talks — whilst Trump would no longer be travelling to Turkey.

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has expressed scepticism over the talks this week, commenting on Wednesday that he was once nonetheless “waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” he stated at the X social media platform.

Kyiv had come underneath force to take part in discussions after Trump on Sunday stated that Ukraine must agree to satisfy Russia “immediately.”

“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform.

“If it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” Trump stated he was once “starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin” earlier than exclaiming, “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”

It’s unsure whether or not Zelenskyy will nonetheless attend the talks, which can be reportedly because of get started round 10 a.m. Moscow time, now that Putin and Trump may not be provide.

Andrii Yermak, the top of Zelenskyy’s administrative center, was once anticipated to wait the negotiations, however there was no legit affirmation that he’s nonetheless participating. Zelenskyy is because of meet Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday.