Shafaq News/ UkrainianPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Turkiye on Thursday to begin a freshround of peace negotiations. However, the absence of Russian President VladimirPutin immediately sparked criticism from Western leaders, casting doubt overthe talks’ potential.
Speaking from EsenbogaAirport, Zelenskyy questioned Moscow’s seriousness. “We need to understand whatkind of level the Russian delegation is, and what mandate they have, and whether theycan make any decisions,” he told reporters, dismissing the Russian team as “decorative.”
While Putin hadinitially indicated he might attend, the Kremlin later confirmed that theRussian side would be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, supported bythree senior officials and four technical advisors.
Russian ForeignMinistry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed the delegation’s arrival inIstanbul, where the talks will take place at a presidential venue overlookingthe Bosporus.
Western LeadersCriticize Putin’s Absence
Zelenskyy’sdecision to attend was widely praised by Western diplomats. French ForeignMinister Jean-Noël Barrot remarked, “Zelenskyy showed goodwill by coming toTurkiye, but there’s an empty chair where Putin should be,” accusing theRussian president of deliberately stalling the peace process, even amidpressure from US President Donald Trump for direct engagement.
British ForeignSecretary David Lammy, speaking from Antalya, dismissed the Russian envoys as“low-level placeholders,” while Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna calledPutin’s absence “a slap in the face to diplomacy.”
Trump Respondsfrom Gulf Tour
From Doha, wherehe is meeting Gulf leaders, Trump downplayed expectations. “I didn’t think itwas possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” he told business leaders at aroundtable.
Trump previouslyencouraged Zelenskyy and Putin to meet face-to-face and even floated the ideaof attending himself. On Thursday, he confirmed that Secretary of State MarcoRubio is already in Turkiye for consultations with NATO officials, whilespecial envoy Steve Witkoff, will join the Russia–Ukraine discussions onFriday.
Ankara Pushes forCeasefire Breakthrough
Meanwhile, TurkishForeign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking at a NATO meeting, expressed cautiousoptimism. “Now, after three years of immense suffering, there is finally awindow of opportunity. The talks in Istanbul hopefully may open a new chapter.”
Kyiv and itsEuropean partners have called for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a firststep toward a broader peace deal. The Kremlin rejected the proposal and insteadframed the Istanbul meeting as a restart of earlier negotiations held in 2022,which collapsed in the early stages of the war.
While Moscowaccuses Ukraine and Western countries of prolonging the conflict, Ukrainianofficials say Russia’s conditions remain too rigid for meaningful dialogue.
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