International-News

Ukraine-Russia peace in Istanbul: Putin backs out and Zelensky therefore does not attend

Ukrainian leader confirms Kiev’s participation with a team led by defense minister, but accuses Moscow of offending the world with low-level representation

There will be no face-to-face between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky at the Istanbul peace talks. After the Russian president’s refusal, the Ukrainian number one also decided not to attend in person, entrusting Kiev’s representation to a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

“Our participation is confirmed, but the meeting is not at the level of presidents,” a senior Ukrainian official explained to Afp. Zelensky, speaking from Ankara after meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, clarified that the delegation has a mandate to discuss “measures toward the end of the war, in particular a ceasefire.”

However, the Ukrainian leader launched a harsh attack on Moscow, criticizing the lack of relevance of the team sent to Turkey. “Russia has shown that it does not want to end the war by sending a low-level delegation. It is an offense to the world and to our partners,” he wrote on X. Zelensky added that if no truce agreement is reached, Kiev will demand new sanctions against Moscow, including from the United States.

Regarding the American presence, Zelensky hinted that Washington will attend the talks with high-level representation. On Russia, however, he spoke of “theatrical staging,” stressing that “we know who really makes the decisions in Moscow.”

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