Putin made mistake by sending low-level officials to negotiate with Ukraine - NATO chief
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
Russia's Vladimir Putin made a mistake by sending low-level officials to negotiate with Ukraine. He knows that the ball is in his court, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says.
Rutte made the statement before the summit of the European Political Community in the capital of Albania, which is also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The NATO Secretary General believes that Putin should take the issues related to the settlement of Russia's war against Ukraine more seriously. In his opinion, Europe and the United States should continue to put pressure on Putin.
"He (Putin - ed.) knows very well that the ball is in his court. He made a mistake by sending a low-level delegation. I think it's very good that Ukraine has come to the negotiating table. I'm very pleased with the role the United States is playing," Rutte said.
Talks in Istanbul
Today, May 16, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in three years will be held in Istanbul. The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while the Russian delegation is headed by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, who participated in the talks in 2022.
The composition of the Russian delegation to the talks with Ukraine has been questioned, as Putin has sent low-level officials to Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Russia insists on excluding the United States from the negotiation process. RBC-Ukraine's sources also confirm that the meeting is likely to be held in a bilateral Ukraine-Russia format without intermediaries.
Ukraine responded to Russia's demand by accusing Moscow of obstructing peace efforts.
Today, the Ukrainian side also held consultations with national security advisors from the United States, UK, France, and Germany. In addition, the Ukrainian team met with representatives of the United States and Türkiye. More details about the talks learn in RBC-Ukraine's article.
