Putin Sends Advisor to Istanbul Talks... No Meeting with Zelensky

First Direct Talks Between Russia and Ukraine in Three Years
Focus on Whether Trump Will Attend
Additional Sanctions on Russia if Ceasefire Is Rejected

On the 15th (local time), during negotiations between Russia and Ukraine held in Istanbul, T?rkiye, it is unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet in person. Attention is focused on whether the two warring sides, sitting face-to-face for the first time in three years, will reach an agreement on a ceasefire.

The Kremlin announced on its website on the 14th that President Putin had signed a presidential decree dispatching a delegation led by advisor Vladimir Medinsky to the Istanbul negotiations. President Putin's own name is not included on the list.

Advisor Medinsky also headed the Russian delegation in the early negotiations between Russia and Ukraine during Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine in 2022. The Russian delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The U.S. delegation, acting as mediators, will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.

On the 11th, President Putin made a surprise proposal for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul during a press conference. As a result, delegations from both Ukraine and Russia will hold peace negotiations in Istanbul, T?rkiye, on the 15th. This is the first time the two countries have engaged in direct talks since June 2022.

However, with President Putin not participating in the negotiations, it appears that a Russia-Ukraine summit in Istanbul will not take place. Previously, President Zelensky responded to President Putin's proposal by counter-offering to wait for President Putin in T?rkiye for a summit. As U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently touring the Middle East, also hinted at the possibility of attending, there was speculation about a potential U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral summit in Istanbul.

In a daily briefing held earlier that evening, before Russia's announcement, President Zelensky stated, "We are waiting to see who will come from Russia, and after that, Ukraine will decide what measures to take." He added, "Ukraine is prepared for negotiations in any form and is not afraid of talks."

Four European countries are pressuring Russia to accept a ceasefire proposal. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland visited Kyiv, Ukraine, held a press conference, and urged Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire starting from the 12th of this month. They demanded Russia comply with this proposal. They also warned that if Russia rejects the ceasefire proposal, they will impose additional sanctions in cooperation with the United States, including financial, oil, and gas restrictions.