Putin ‘disrespected' Trump by swerving peace talks, Zelensky rages as Don warns ‘nothing will happen' until he sees Vlad
VLADIMIR Putin "disrespected" Donald Trump by swerving peace talks at the last minute, a fuming Volodymyr Zelensky said today.
It comes after Trump warned 'nothing is going to happen' on the Ukraine peace deal until he meets Vladimir Putin in person.
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Meanwhile, Zelensky slammed Russian "theatrics" for sending "stand-in props" to Turkey to take part in the already delayed peace talks.
'I believe the US and Turkey, they feel Russia's disrespect, in my opinion,' Zelensky said in a press conference in Ankara.
'No meeting time, no agenda, no high-level delegation, that is personal disrespect…to Erdogan and Trump. Trump sent a big team of people.'
Putin refused to attend today's negotiations alongside his usual Kremlin enforcers and instead sent his Salisbury poisoning spy chief.
Trump is also not set to attend today's potential peace talks in any capacity.
But he may still turn up later this week should he see progress being made at the negotiating table.
Speaking from Qatar, Trump told reporters he hopes Russia and Ukraine can 'do something' as the gruelling war 'has to stop' now.
He added: "I don't believe anything's going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together."
Zelensky landed in Ankara this morning as he announced he may take part in the negotiations after he holds a meeting with Turkey's president.
Neither side has spoken as of yet, with the meeting being delayed until later today.
The Ukrainian leader added that he had selected the 'highest level of delegation' for peace talks in Turkey.
However, they will not all be sent to Istanbul for peace talks after Russia sent low-level delegates to attend the peace talks.
Zelensky said: 'I decided to send a delegation to Istanbul, but not all of them.
"Russia should demonstrate at least something, at least the level of delegation.
"If we don't see this demonstration, it means that they're not ready to talk about putting an end to the war and make decisions, it means they lack political will."
Ukraine's defence minister will lead the team at the Russia talks, he added, before accusing Putin of showing a lack of seriousness.
Putin had been challenged to turn up to the talks by Kyiv.
He declined and has refused to take part in any talks - further angering Ukraine.
Instead, GRU military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov is set to help with the talks for the Kremlin.
Kostyukov has a twisted past after he was sanctioned by Britain and the EU over his team's bid to kill former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Wiltshire as part of the infamous Salisbury attack.
The nerve agent strike was carried out when Kostyukov was deputy head of the GRU.
He was promoted by Putin to a top spy chief shortly afterwards.
Putin's negotiators will also see Vladimir Medinsky, a West-hating aide who denies Ukraine even exists, take part.
The lack of any pivotal Kremlin official from Putin's top team has already caused an issue for those demanding peace in Ukraine.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy blasted Putin as he said the despot has only sent 'low-level' officials.
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