Putin and Trump will not attend Ukraine negotiations in Turkey despite Zelenskyy 'ready' for talks
by Alice Padgett · LBCBy Alice Padgett
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will not attend Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday.
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The Russian president has signed an order revealing who will be in the Istanbul delegation for peace negotiations.
Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, deputy minister of defence Alexander Fomin and deputy foreign minister Galuzin Mikhail Yuryevich will be in attendance.
Putin proposed negotiations with Ukraine to be held on Thursday "without any preconditions".
US President Donald Trump will also not go to Istanbul to join the talks, a US official confirmed.
President Zelenskyy has said Ukraine was ready for "any format" of negotiations with Putin but would only attend talks if the Russian president attended.click here
The Ukrainian President has said previously he will be "waiting for" the Russian leader in Istanbul, Turkey "personally" for peace talks.
The US President previously said Putin wants him to be present at peace talks - after Trump said he was "thinking" of going to Turkey.
"I am waiting to see who will arrive from Russia and then I will determine what steps Ukraine should take. The signals in the media so far are unconvincing," Zelenskyy said in a video address on Wednesday.
He said Putin "continues to strike Ukraine".
"In fact, it is now more obvious to the entire world than at any other point during the full-scale war... that the only obstacle to establishing peace is the lack of a clear will from Russia to do so."
Is Putin’s peace talk proposal genuine?: Ukrainian MP weighs in
Last week, at least 108 drone strikes were launched at Ukraine overnight, 55 of which were shot down, Kyiv said.
The attacks targeted almost all of Ukraine, the country’s air force said, and came just hours after European leaders met to demand an immediate ceasefire.
This comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with European leaders earlier this week.
Sir Keir said on Saturday that European allies “together with the US” are “calling Putin out” and pledged to ramp up sanctions further if he “turns his back on peace”.
He had travelled to Kyiv alongside his French, German and Polish counterparts for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the so-called coalition of the willing.
The leaders in the Ukrainian capital also spoke by phone to US President Donald Trump, who has also previously called for a 30-day truce.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy urged Vladimir Putin to meet him on Thursday in Istanbul but Russia's leader has yet to respond.
Mr Trump, while on his tour of the Middle East, said late on Monday, "I was thinking about flying over. I don't know where I am going be on Thursday.
"I've got so many meetings.
"There's a possibility there I guess, if I think things can happen."
The US president also said he was "always considering" secondary sanctions on Moscow after the European Union laid out a 17th package on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy has supported the notion of Trump joining the peace talks.
He said: "I supported President Trump with the idea of direct talks with Putin. I have openly expressed my readiness to meet.
"And of course, all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Turkey."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "Overall, we're determined to seriously look for ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement. That is all."
Earlier this week, President Trump insisted Ukraine accept Russia's offer as he urged the two countries to talk.
The US President said he is starting to doubt Ukraine will make a deal with Russia - whilst also accusing President Putin of being too caught up in celebrations to commemorate the end of World War 2.
He said on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday: "President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.
"Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.
"At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!
"I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America.
"HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!"