Vladimir Putin has faced strong criticism after it was revealed he will not attend upcoming Ukraine peace negotiations in Istanbul, despite having proposed the talks “without any preconditions”. Instead, the Kremlin will send a delegation of technocrats, including presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had publicly challenged Putin to join the talks “if he’s not afraid”, reinforcing expectations that both leaders would be present.
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Putin’s absence, alongside confirmation that former US President Donald Trump will also not attend, has dampened hopes for any significant diplomatic breakthrough. Trump, currently visiting the Middle East, had initially indicated he “might” travel to Turkey but withdrew after the Kremlin confirmed its delegation. The lack of participation from both Russian and American leaders has been interpreted as a blow to the credibility of the event, with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna describing it as “like a slap in the face”.
Despite the uncertainty, Zelensky remains committed to engaging in dialogue. However, he made clear that Ukraine’s involvement hinges on meaningful participation from Moscow. In his nightly address, the Ukrainian president emphasised that the root of the conflict lies in Russia and that “how the war will end depends on the world.” He reiterated his support for a 30-day ceasefire, echoing Trump’s proposal for a temporary pause in the conflict, now Europe’s largest land war since the Second World War.
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Talks are set to involve US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials, while Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has already met with Rubio to align their peace strategy. Meanwhile, the Russian delegation includes figures who participated in the initial negotiations during the early stages of the war in 2022. With no sign of high-level leaders attending, however, the Istanbul talks are likely to focus on limited objectives such as a prisoner exchange and outlining conditions for a ceasefire, rather than achieving a long-term peace settlement.
