Maps
Magazine

WORLD NEWS

Kremlin Remains Tight-Lipped on Putin’s Attendance at Ukraine-Russia Talks in Turkiye
The Kremlin has declined to confirm whether Putin will attend the planned Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Turkiye, despite growing international pressure.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-14
Kremlin Remains Tight-Lipped on Putin’s Attendance at Ukraine-Russia Talks in Turkiye

Amid rising international calls for direct talks to end the ongoing conflict, the Kremlin has once again refused to confirm whether President Vladimir Putin will attend the planned negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkiye.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Wednesday that Moscow would reveal the details of its delegation only after receiving specific instructions from President Putin. "The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15," Peskov stated, adding that no further updates would be provided until Putin gave the necessary orders.

The much-anticipated negotiations are set to take place in Istanbul, Turkiye’s commercial hub, marking the first direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting, expected on Thursday, comes amid mounting global pressure on both leaders to engage in dialogue and seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who is expected to travel to Turkiye for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has directly challenged Putin to attend the Istanbul summit. He has warned that Moscow’s refusal to participate would indicate a lack of interest in pursuing peace. Zelenskyy also called for U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Turkiye and partake in the discussions.

Trump, currently on a Middle East tour, responded positively, stating that there was a "possibility" he would head to Turkiye if Putin were to attend. Trump noted that he understood Putin might prefer his presence at the negotiations and expressed interest in contributing to a potential peace deal.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also weighed in, pledging to push Putin to attend the talks. Lula, who is scheduled to visit Moscow after attending a regional forum in China, said he would personally urge the Russian leader to participate, adding, "It costs me nothing to say, 'hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, dammit.'"

Meanwhile, discussions continue on the broader geopolitical ramifications of the war, with French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments on nuclear arms deployment adding another layer to the debate. Macron’s remarks that France could deploy nuclear-armed bombers in other European countries, including Turkiye, sparked controversy and further fueled tensions in the region.

As international efforts intensify to broker peace, all eyes remain on Moscow, with the world waiting to see if President Putin will engage in face-to-face talks with President Zelenskyy to discuss the future of Ukraine and the broader region.

 
Tagged:

Diplomacy

putin

zelenskyy

PeaceNegotiations

RussiaUkraineTalks
Share News: