Zelensky and Erdogan to lead crucial Russia talks in Istanbul
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is travelling to Turkey to participate in direct talks with Russia in Istanbul on Thursday, Reuters reported, citing a senior Ukrainian administration official. The Kremlin has announced that the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, will not be present in Istanbul.
A Ukrainian official confirmed that Zelensky will first travel to Ankara, where he is scheduled to meet with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations is planned in Istanbul.
On Wednesday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be in Istanbul. Instead, Putin's advisor, Vladimir Medinsky, will lead the Russian delegation.
According to the Kremlin's statement, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the main directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, will also travel to Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump will also not be heading to Turkey. On Tuesday, the White House announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will travel to Istanbul for the Russian-Ukrainian talks.
Zelensky hoped for Trump's arrival
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hope for Trump's arrival in Turkey. “I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing. But we also hear that President Trump is considering attending the meeting in Türkiye. That could become the strongest argument. This week really may change a lot — but only may… Everything is being decided right now," Zelensky said in an evening recording.
Zelensky had already declared that he could only meet with Putin in Istanbul. In addition to the Ukrainian president, the head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, presidential advisor Ihor Zhovkva, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov are expected to be in Turkey.
