Putin's potential absence in Turkey could shift US‑Russia talks
Glen Howard from the Saratoga Foundation suggested that Vladimir Putin's absence from the meeting in Turkey could signal the end of American involvement in negotiations with Russia.
Glen Howard, president of the Saratoga Foundation, stressed in a conversation with PAP that if Vladimir Putin does not attend the meeting in Turkey, it will mark the end of American involvement in negotiations with Russia.
He added that for the USA, it would be a signal that "they cannot do business with Putin."
Key meeting in Istanbul
On Thursday, 15th May, peace talks with the participation of Ukraine, the USA, and Russia are scheduled to occur in Istanbul. It remains uncertain whether Vladimir Putin will attend. Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has stated that he will not negotiate with anyone of lower rank than Putin, as only he can decide to end the war.
Matthew Boyse from the Hudson Institute noted that "Washington's patience with Putin is running out." In his view, Putin's decision on attending the meeting will be a "moment of truth" regarding his intentions.
International reactions
The US President, Donald Trump, has not ruled out his participation in the meeting, provided there are prospects for reaching an agreement to end the fighting. According to Reuters, the presence of US Secretary of State Marc Rubio and special envoys of the US 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 highlighted that "there is increasingly loud talk of additional, harsher sanctions." Secretary Rubio suggests that the USA should "go further" if Putin opts against talks. Boyse noted that Putin continues his predictable game, refusing to declare a ceasefire and continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Tadeusz Iwański from the Centre for Eastern Studies assessed that even without the presence of Putin and Trump, the talks in Istanbul will mark a new development. However, he does not expect a breakthrough, as the Russians are playing for time and are not ready for a ceasefire.
