Putin will not travel to Istanbul for peace talks with Zelenskyy, Kremlin confirms
The GuardianWednesday, May 14, 2025 at 9:16:50 PM
** The Kremlin confirmed that Vladimir Putin will not attend proposed peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejecting the invitation for a face-to-face meeting. Instead, Russia’s delegation will be led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky, who previously handled negotiations.
What This Means: ** This refusal signals a continued deadlock in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, as Putin avoids direct engagement with Zelenskyy. It underscores the challenges in achieving meaningful peace talks and suggests Russia may prefer indirect or lower-level negotiations, prolonging tensions in the region.
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