Ukraine to send delegation to negotiations with Russia in Istanbul: Zelenskyy reveals details

Zelenskyy emphasized that the delegation Russia sent to the negotiations in Istanbul shows that Moscow is not taking the dialogue seriously. The delegation does not include any of the high-ranking officials from the aggressor state who are actually responsible for making decisions.

"Despite the rather low level of the Russian delegation, out of respect for President Trump (US President Donald Trump – ed.), for the high-level Turkish delegation and President Erdoğan (President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – ed.), and wishing to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation and an end to the war (a ceasefire), I decided to send our delegation to Istanbul — though not in full," the president said.

He clarified that the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), Vasyl Maliuk, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Hnatov, would not take part in the negotiations.

"But the delegation will be headed by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, despite the fact that there will be no counterpart from the Russian side," the president added.

He explained that the meeting is set to take place in a format involving Turkish, American, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives. Umerov is part of Ukraine’s negotiating team and is fluent in Turkish, English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Negotiations in Istanbul

Russia had long kept the composition of its delegation to the negotiations in Istanbul a secret. Ukraine had expected the dialogue to take place at the highest level — between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin.

However, instead of attending himself, Putin sent a low-level delegation led by the Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

More details about the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia can be found in the material by RBC-Ukraine.