Putin's absence in Istanbul could end US‑Russia talks
The absence of Vladimir Putin at the meeting in Turkey could signify the end of American involvement in negotiations with Russia, claims Glen Howard from the Saratoga Foundation.
Glen Howard, president of the Saratoga Foundation, emphasized in a conversation with PAP that if Vladimir Putin does not appear at the meeting in Turkey, it will mean the end of American involvement in negotiations with Russia.
He added that for the U.S., it will be a signal that "they cannot do business with Putin."
Key meeting in Istanbul
On Thursday, May 15, peace talks with the participation of Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia are scheduled to take place in Istanbul. It is still uncertain whether Vladimir Putin will participate. Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, announced that he will not negotiate with anyone of lower rank than Putin, as only he can make the decision to end the war.
Matthew Boyse from the Hudson Institute noted that Washington's patience with Putin is running out. In his opinion, Putin's decision on participating in the meeting will be a moment of truth about his intentions.
International reactions
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, also did not rule out his participation in the meeting, provided there are grounds for reaching an agreement to end the fighting. According to Reuters, the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio and special envoys of the U.S. President is expected in Istanbul.
Russian media report that Russia will not be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. It is still unknown who will represent Russia at the talks.
Sanctions and pressure
Boyse emphasized that there is increasingly loud talk about additional, harsher sanctions. Secretary Rubio suggests that the U.S. should "go further" if Putin decides against talks. Boyse noted that Putin continues his predictable game, refusing to declare a ceasefire and continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
