Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Turkiye for peace talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Russian President Vladimir Putin was notably absent. Zelenskyy stated that further steps for negotiations would be determined after the meeting.

What This Mean: The absence of Putin suggests stalled or one-sided diplomatic efforts in resolving the Ukraine-Russia war, while Turkiye continues to position itself as a mediator. The talks may influence future negotiation strategies but lack immediate progress without Russia's participation.

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend upcoming Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, though negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume.

What This Mean: This development suggests continued diplomatic tensions, as Putin's absence may signal reluctance to engage directly in peace efforts, potentially prolonging the conflict or delegating negotiations to lower-level officials. The broader context reflects ongoing struggles to achieve a resolution in the war.

The first direct Ukraine-Russia peace talks since 2022 will proceed without the participation of Presidents Zelensky or Putin, reducing expectations for a major resolution. Putin initially proposed talks for May 15 but later confirmed his absence.

What This Mean: The absence of both leaders signals low prospects for immediate progress in ending the war, reflecting ongoing tensions and diplomatic challenges. This development underscores the difficulty in achieving meaningful negotiations amid entrenched hostilities.

** 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 Mean: ** 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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not included in the Russian delegation set to attend ceasefire talks with Ukraine in Turkey, and former U.S. President Donald Trump is also not attending.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not listed among Kremlin officials attending Ukraine peace talks in Turkey, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's challenge for a direct meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the Ukraine peace talks in Turkey, despite demands from Kyiv and Western pressure, as confirmed by Moscow's published delegation list. US President Donald Trump also confirmed his absence.