Putin to skip Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the official delegation that will represent Russia in renewed peace talks on the war in Ukraine, scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey. While Putin himself will not participate in the talks, the Kremlin has emphasized the presence of seasoned officials and experts to lead the discussions.

Heading the Russian delegation will be Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who also took part in the early 2022 negotiation rounds following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Joining him are Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

In addition to the lead negotiators, a team of senior experts has been designated to support the talks. These include Alexander Zorin, First Deputy Head of the General Staff’s Information Department; Yelena Podobreyevskaya, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Humanitarian Policy; Alexey Polishchuk, Director of the Second CIS Department at the Foreign Ministry; and Viktor Shevtsov, Deputy Head of the Defense Ministry’s Military Cooperation Directorate.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov confirmed that discussions will begin on Thursday in Istanbul and will cover both political and technical matters. Putin formally extended an unconditional invitation to Ukraine to resume direct negotiations on May 11.

What Zelenskyy Said

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had earlier stated he would only attend the meeting if Putin were present, has expressed skepticism over Russia’s intentions. In a social media post on Wednesday, he noted Ukraine was monitoring the composition of the Russian delegation closely before deciding its response.

“The signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” Zelenskyy wrote. "We also hear that President Trump is considering attending the meeting in Turkiye. That could become the strongest argument. This week really may change a lot -- but only may. Everything is being decided right now," he added.

Zelenskyy also thanked international partners for continuing to apply pressure on Moscow: "Russia is only prolonging the war and the killings. I want to thank every country, every leader who is now putting pressure on Russia, so that the shelling finally stops, so that meaningful negotiations can take place at a level where real decisions can be made. To everyone helping peace and diplomacy."

Trump Not to Attend Turkey Peace Talks

US President Donald Trump will also not attend the upcoming Russia–Ukraine peace talks in Turkey, following days of speculation about a surprise appearance.

Trump had suggested he might alter his Middle East travel schedule to join the negotiations, claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin "would like me to be there."

However, after the Kremlin confirmed Putin would not be present and named his delegation instead, US officials told CNN that Trump will not be attending either.

Previous negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were held in Belarus and Turkey in early 2022, but ultimately collapsed without agreement. The upcoming talks mark the most serious effort in over two years to re-engage in direct diplomacy.

(With input from agencies)