European diplomats accuse Putin of undermining talks with Ukraine
Photo: Radoslaw Sikorski (Getty Images)
Leading European diplomats have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining negotiations with Ukraine aimed at ending the war. However, the United States has taken a more cautious stance ahead of a possible meeting in Türkiye, Bloomberg reports.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that the Kremlin's appointment of a low-level delegation to participate in the Istanbul talks showed that Putin was trying to buy time.
"We hope that the President of the United States sees this mockery for what it is and draws the right conclusions," he told reporters before a meeting with NATO counterparts in Antalya, Türkiye.
While Ukraine is ready for talks, Russia "wants to continue the war," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. "The only empty chair is Russia’s."
"It is clear that Russia is sending only a lower level delegation to Turkiye to these peace talks," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters on Thursday.
The United States is "open to being constructive and being helpful in any way to end the conflict," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is attending the NATO meeting in Antalya. "Let’s see what happens over the next couple of days," adding that "we want to see progress made."
Rubio is to join US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg in Istanbul on May 16.
Putin announced that the Russian delegation would be headed by his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, raising doubts about the prospects for any concrete steps to end the war at this week's meetings.
Trump's reaction
US President Donald Trump, who is on a tour of the Middle East, has made it clear that he may still come to Türkiye, although Putin has not yet shown any signs of being willing to take part in the talks.
"I was thinking about going, but it’s very tough because of what we’re doing today and tomorrow," Trump told reporters in Qatar. "But you know, if something happened, I’d go on Friday if it was appropriate".
Asked if he was disappointed that Putin would not go to Istanbul, Trump said he didn't expect Putin to come.
"I said I didn't think Putin would go if I didn't go, and that turned out to be true," Trump said. "I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there."
Zelenskyy's visit
Zelenskyy has already arrived in Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
He called the composition of the Russian delegation a sham. According to him, Ukraine has sent a high-level delegation to Türkiye.
