'Putin didn't show up – I have no reason to be here,' Zelenskyy on talks in Türkiye
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has minimized its participation in negotiations with the Russian side due to the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The delegation will arrive in Istanbul but without high-ranking officials. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference.
"But for the Chief of the General Staff, for now, the Head of the Security Service, and a few other people in our delegation who came here with me — and accordingly for me as well — there is nothing to do, because Putin hasn't arrived yet, or perhaps won't arrive at all; no one knows," Zelenskyy emphasized.
He also noted that US President Donald Trump had signaled that he might show up.
"Aside from this signal, which was publicly made through the media, we have no other information," the leader added.
Talks in Türkiye
On the night of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a joint proposal by Ukraine, the EU, and the US to establish a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, the Russian President proposed a meeting with Ukraine in Türkiye.
Ukraine and its partners, together with US leader Donald Trump, supported this proposal, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was ready to personally meet with Putin in Türkiye.
However, as expected, Putin ignored the meeting with Zelenskyy and instead sent low-level officials to Istanbul. The delegation was not even led by Russia's Foreign Minister but by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the President, who had previously participated in negotiations back in 2022.
Ukraine is represented at the highest level at the talks in Türkiye — the delegation includes representatives from the President's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the military, and intelligence services.
Upon arriving in Türkiye, Zelenskyy said that the Russian delegation sent by President Vladimir Putin in his place "looks more like a sham."
Earlier, it was also reported that Ukraine would take part in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, with the delegation headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
