Zelensky lands in Ankara ahead of critical Erdogan talks
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has landed in Ankara. He announced that decisions regarding talks with Russia will be made after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not participate in the potential negotiations in Istanbul.
On Thursday, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived in the capital of Turkey to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The talks, which — as the Ukrainian leader announced — will be crucial for Ukraine's further actions, began at around 12:30 AM local time.
"We will start by meeting with President Erdogan, with the entire Turkish delegation. We are in contact with the American side, and I think they will also be in Turkey at a high level," Zelensky said.
He added that the Ukrainian delegation is prepared to make decisions that could lead to a just peace. However, he expressed doubts about the decision-making capabilities of the Russian delegation, which lacks Vladimir Putin.
"We need to understand the level of the Russian delegation, what their mandate is, and whether they are capable of making any decisions. Because we all know who makes them in Russia," Zelensky stated.
Talks in Istanbul
Later in the day, peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials are expected to begin in Istanbul. Zelensky previously announced that he would only participate in these talks if the leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin, also appeared there.
However, the Kremlin announced that Putin will not attend, and the Russian delegation will be led by his adviser Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation will also include 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.
The talks between Russia and Ukraine, which will take place in Istanbul, have been postponed from the morning to later in the day at Turkey's request. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday in Qatar that he might go to Turkey on Friday for the talks between Ukraine and Russia if there is progress in these negotiations.
