Asger Risom
The absence of Russia’s president casts uncertainty over scheduled negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
As Ukraine and Russia prepare for anticipated peace talks in Istanbul, a surprising announcement has shifted the dynamics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not personally attend the negotiations, despite Ukrainian insistence that his presence is essential.
Russia Names Delegation to Istanbul Talks
The Kremlin released its official delegation list on Wednesday, confirming that Putin will not participate.
Instead, the Russian team will be led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinski, who previously represented Moscow in 2022 talks.
Accompanying Medinski will be Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained that only a direct dialogue with Putin can lead to meaningful progress.
“This is his war,” Zelensky reportedly stated, reinforcing that negotiations without the Russian president lack legitimacy.
Ukraine’s Skepticism Toward Russia’s Intentions
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, expressed strong reservations. He labeled the move as a stalling tactic by Moscow aimed at delaying sanctions and buying time.
Podolyak also doubted Putin’s willingness to attend negotiations in a neutral setting, saying, “He does not know how to negotiate outside of platforms he fully controls.”
The talks are set to take place in the same city where the two sides attempted to negotiate a settlement back in 2022. According to Moscow, those earlier discussions were derailed by pressure from the then-Biden administration.
The upcoming negotiations now face heightened uncertainty as global attention turns to Istanbul.
