Ussian President Vladimir Putin will not participate in Russia-Ukraine’s peace interviews scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, despite the challenges of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zeleva and diplomatic shocks from global leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Lula Da Silva.
Later on Wednesday, the Kremlin published a list of eight delegates – four negotiators and four experts – who will represent Moscow in interviews. Putin, who suggested on Sunday the Istanbul session “without assumptions”, did not include among the participants.
Russia appoints a delegation with military, intelligence officials
The Russian delegation announced through the Decree on the Kremlin website includes:
- Vladimir Medinsky, presidential advisor and former Minister of Culture, considered Hawkish character
- Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense
- Igor Kostyukov, Director of GRU (Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Agency)
All three previously participated in short -term negotiations held in 2022 after a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Green: “So far signals are unconvincing”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zlensky remained cautious about the upcoming interviews and stated on Wednesday evening that Kiev would be waiting to confirm the composition of the Russian delegation before determining the next step.
“I wait to see who will arrive from Russia, and then determine what steps to take Ukraine. The signals in the media are still unconvincing,” Zelsky said at his night address.
He also criticized the Russian continuing aggression despite the proposed interviews: “Now it is clearer for the whole world than at any other point of war in full … that the only obstacle to determination of peace is the lack of clear will from Russia.”
Trump refuses to participate
US President Donald Trump, who suggested to travel to Turkey at the beginning of this week, confirmed by Putin, through an American official on Wednesday, that he would not join the conversations.
Trump proposed a 30 -day ceasefire between the two countries and urged both sides to quickly agree to the terms and conditions. It is allegedly frustrated by a lack of obligation from Moscow and Kiev.
“I always think about secondary sanctions against Moscow if I think they are blocking this process,” Trump said.
Lula urges Putin to join the conversations
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva spoke to Putin by phone on Wednesday and urged him personally to attend the meeting in Istanbul.
Lula “emphasized the Brazilian commitment to peace and made available again to cooperate in any way in finding an understanding of Russia and Ukraine”, according to his office statement.
Previous interviews and standoff
Negotiations of this week are considered to continue the 2022 Istanbul interviews, which collapsed without a solution. The meeting between Putin and Zelenky would be their first since December 2019.
Diplomatic Standoff took over the symbolic tone, with green signaling that he would only participate in Putin – wrap it as a litmus test of one who wants peace more.
(Tagstotranslate) Vladimir Putin
