Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend upcoming Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s open invitation for a face-to-face meeting. Instead, the Kremlin announced that its delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.
The Istanbul talks, set to take place on Thursday, come after Putin unexpectedly called for direct negotiations “without pre-conditions,” following appeals by Western leaders for a 30-day ceasefire. In response, Zelensky declared his willingness to attend in person but only if Putin did as well. “I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally,” Zelensky stated on social media.
The two leaders have not met since December 2019, and no direct negotiations have taken place since March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the war has continued with high intensity, particularly in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have made incremental gains.
Zelensky is due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on the same day. He expressed skepticism about Russia’s intentions, noting in a Wednesday night video address, “So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had hinted he might join the talks if Putin attended, will also be absent. Speaking from Qatar on Wednesday, Trump stated he was unsure if Putin would show up “if I’m not there,” but emphasized his desire to help broker peace. Trump has maintained contact with Putin and has pushed for a ceasefire, dispatching envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow earlier this year.
The U.S. will instead be represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Turkey on Wednesday. Rubio is scheduled to meet NATO foreign ministers and European diplomats, and is expected in Istanbul on Friday. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has already met with Rubio, reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to the peace process.
As diplomacy intensifies in Turkey, the absence of both Putin and Trump casts uncertainty over the talks’ outcome. Nonetheless, the high-level attendance underscores continued international efforts to halt the devastating conflict.
