After Putin and Trump, Zelenskyy to skip Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend the upcoming peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, joining Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in opting out of direct participation.Instead, Ukraine's delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and include senior military and intelligence officials, according to a presidential decree published Thursday.Speaking in Ankara alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan, Zelenskyy criticized the composition of Russia's delegation, accusing Moscow of not taking the negotiations seriously.advertisement
"Russia does not feel it needs to end the war, which means there is not enough pressure—political, economic or otherwise—on the Russian Federation," Zelenskyy said, calling for tougher sanctions. He also described the Russian envoys as 'stand-in props' and reiterated his call for a face-to-face meeting with Putin.'You want to meet? Let's meet,' Zelenskyy said, adding, 'There was no time, no agenda, no high-level delegation from Russia. I believe the U.S. and Turkey feel Russia's disrespect.'Earlier, Trump confirmed he would not attend the Istanbul summit despite earlier hints that he might reroute his Middle East trip to join. He claimed no peace deal would materialize 'until Putin and I get together.'Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin also announced that the official delegation would represent Russia during the peace talks in Turkey over the ongoing war in Ukraine.Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky will head the Russian delegation and he will be joined by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.Must Watch
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