Putin not on Kremlin list for Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had challenged the Russian leader to meet him in person in Istanbul
War rivals Ukraine and Russia are set to go into their first direct talks in more than three years on Thursday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin not included on the list of attendees.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had challenged Putin to meet him in person in Istanbul, but the Russian delegation names only a lower-level team.
Putin’s absence would diminish the importance of the first direct negotiations since a failed effort in the weeks after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Tens of thousands have been killed since the offensive started in February 2022. Russia has occupied about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory in what is now Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.
Putin had proposed holding talks on May 15 in Istanbul as a counter-offer after Ukraine and European nations last week called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.