Putin's attendance of Russia-Ukraine peace talks unsure, Trump bails
4 Min Read
US President Donald Trump will not participate in Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, with a 30-day ceasefire and POW exchange on the table.
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US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, on Friday, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul set for Thursday, marking a potential breakthrough in diplomacy since 2022.
However, the Kremlin has not yet disclosed who will represent Russia in the negotiations.
Putin proposed that the talks would take place “without any preconditions,” but no names have been confirmed from Moscow’s side.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that the delegation's composition would be revealed once Putin instructs it. He added, “The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15.”
Ukrainian response hinges on Putin’s attendance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly agreed to participate in the Istanbul negotiations but conditioned his attendance on Putin’s.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source stated that Kiev would decide its next steps based on whether or not Putin attends.
“Everything will depend on whether Putin is scared of coming to Istanbul or not. Based on his response, the Ukrainian leadership will decide on the next steps,” the source emphasized.
If the meeting takes place, it would be the first encounter between the leaders of the two warring sides since December 2019. The last direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were also held in Istanbul, in March 2022.
Ukraine waiting to see who would represent Russia before next steps.
On Wednesday, Zelensky said his country was waiting to see who would represent Russia at the Istanbul talks before determining Ukraine's next steps.
"I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take. The signals in the media so far are unconvincing," he said in his nightly video address.
He said Putin, instead of considering the talks, "continues to strike Ukraine."
"In fact, it is now more obvious to the entire world than at any other point during the full-scale war ...that the only obstacle to establishing peace is the lack of a clear will from Russia to do so," the Ukrainian leader added.
Trump considering Turkiye visit if Putin attends
US President Donald Trump has urged both parties to attend the Istanbul talks and suggested that his own attendance is still under consideration.
“(Putin) would like me to be there, and that's a possibility... I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Qatar.
Later, two senior White House officials confirmed that President Donald Trump will not visit Turkiye this week, quashing speculation that he might join Putin at the negotiating table for ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine. The clarification was reported by CNN on Wednesday.
The White House’s confirmation narrows the scope of diplomatic engagement on the Russia-Ukraine front during this trip and reinforces speculation that Trump is reserving direct negotiations with Moscow for a later stage, possibly under more favorable terms.
He confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, would be sent to Turkiye.
Trump is advocating for an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling it Europe’s largest land war since World War II. Zelensky has backed this ceasefire, while Putin insists that such terms should be addressed during the negotiation process.
A Russian lawmaker suggested that the talks may also cover a potential prisoner of war exchange, adding another layer of importance to the discussions.
Read more: Trump urges Kiev to join Putin talks 'IMMEDIATELY' to end 'BLOODBATH'
Lavrov will not take part in Istanbul talks
Despite some media reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov may attend, Kommersant, a newspaper known for its close ties to the Russian Foreign Ministry, reported on Wednesday that Lavrov would not be present.
Possible additional sanctions on Russia
Trump, visibly frustrated by the continued hostilities, said he is “always considering” secondary sanctions against Moscow should it appear to obstruct the peace process.
US officials have also floated the idea of financial sanctions and penalties targeting buyers of Russian oil.
Read more: Russia dismisses sanctions pressure over Ukraine ceasefire proposal
