Russian delegation in Istanbul includes Putin’s interpreter – Media
Photo: Putin's interpreter was part of the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul (Getty Images)
Sergei Chudinov, the second secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Linguistic Support and interpreter for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, was part of the Russian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul, Russian outlet Agentstvo reports.
Chudinov was spotted at the negotiation table in Istanbul, as shown in photos published by the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU. He also appears in a video featuring Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's address.
According to media reports, Sergei Chudinov regularly works with Vladimir Putin. He was seen at the Russian leader's meeting with actor Steven Seagal in 2016, as well as at the opening ceremony of the Games of the Future in Kazan in 2024, attended by Putin and several foreign leaders.
In 2018, Chudinov served as interpreter during Putin's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Helsinki. He also translated Putin's 2017 interview with American filmmaker Oliver Stone.
Ukraine–Russia talks in Istanbul
On June 2, Ukraine and Russia held the second round of peace negotiations.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the delegations discussed the possibility of a ceasefire.
The talks also addressed the issue of prisoner exchanges. Ukraine insisted on the release of all prisoners of war and the return of civilians. Ukrainian officials demanded the immediate release of detained students.
Another key topic was the potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Additionally, during the negotiations, Russia wants such a ceasefire to be limited to certain areas of the front line.
