Putin's absence in Istanbul underscores Russian disinterest

• Kaja Kallas emphasizes that Russia does not want peace.
• Vladimir Putin did not appear at the talks in Istanbul.
• The European Commission is preparing the 18th package of sanctions against Russia.

Negotiations took place in Istanbul on Friday, with representatives from the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey attending. However, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, did not attend the meeting. The head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, commented on this situation, highlighting that Russia is not taking the talks seriously.

Kallas remarked that all sides were prepared for a high-level meeting, yet Putin appeared unwilling to attend. She suggested that dismissing the importance of the event indicates a lack of seriousness toward the negotiations. In her view, it became evident to the international community that Russia is engaging in deceptive tactics.

Kaja Kallas reported that the European Commission is working on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Earlier, on Wednesday, EU countries accepted the 17th package, which includes sanctions on Russian ships and restrictions against prosecutors and judges involved in the repression of opposition activists.

Putin's absence in Istanbul sparked a wave of comments. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte assessed that the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, made a big mistake by sending a low-level delegation to Istanbul for talks with Ukraine on Friday in Tirana. He also emphasized that Ukraine sent a delegation to Turkey authorized to negotiate a casefire.

Marco Rubio, representing the United States, did not hide his disappointment. At the same time, he stated that he does not believe that any breakthrough in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is possible "until President Trump sits face-to-face with President Putin and determines what his intentions are moving forward."