Director of Policy Planning Michael Anton represents US at Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul, media
Photo: Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the US State Department (state gov)
Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the US State Department, is representing Washington at the talks in Istanbul. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also arrived in Istanbul, reports Reuters.
The media, citing a State Department spokesman, notes that Michael Anton will represent the United States at the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Istanbul. Reuters does not specify which side the State Department official will be negotiating with.
Meanwhile, AFP and BBC report that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Istanbul. Earlier, he said he would not participate in the talks between Ukraine and Russia because of the low level of the Russian delegation.
AFP, citing Turkish sources, writes that the US representatives will hold separate meetings with Ukraine and Türkiye on the one hand and with the Russians on the other.
BBC correspondent Tom Bateman, who arrived in Istanbul with Rubio, notes that the mood of the American delegation is “quite gloomy.”
Negotiations in Istanbul
On Friday, May 16, Ukraine and Russia are to hold talks in Istanbul. The day before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the composition of the Ukrainian team, headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
The composition of the Russian delegation is questionable. Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not attend the May 15 meeting with Zelenskyy but sent low-level officials to Türkiye. The Russian delegation is headed by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky, who was a participant in the 2022 talks.
Turkish media outlet Anadolu wrote that talks are scheduled for today in the Ukraine-US-Türkiye format, followed by Ukraine-Russia-Türkiye.
Read more about the talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul in our report.
