Russia’s Putin Skips Peace Talks In Istanbul

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

ISTANBUL/MOSCOW (Worthy News) – The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t attend Thursday peace talks in Istanbul despite calls from Ukraine and the United States to participate.

Putin’s decision not to travel to Turkey for peace talks on the war in Ukraine came as a setback for U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who had hoped to broker a peace deal to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II.

Instead Russia’s delegation at Thursday’s talks in Istanbul will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinksy, according to a Kremlin statement.

Moments later, a source familiar with his thinking confirmed that U.S. President Trump decided not to go to Turkey for talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war after it became clear that Putin would stay away.

On Sunday, Putin proposed holding direct negotiations with Ukraine on Thursday “without any preconditions.”

The U.S. president had toyed with the idea of going to Turkey if Putin would be there. Trump

He expressed shock about the many young people killed in the battlefields, often in trenches resembling World War I.

MEETING PUTIN

Zelenskyy had previously said he would attend the talks and meet Putin in person if the Russian president agreed.

He added he would “do everything” to ensure the face-to-face meeting occurred.

However, sources said the Ukrainian president will still meet Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Putin and Zelensky have not met in person since December 2019.

Russia and Ukraine last held direct negotiations in March 2022 in Istanbul, shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour.

More than 1 million people are believed to have been killed and injured in the armed conflict.

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