Particle.news
Download on the App Store
196 ARTICLES
·
2mo ago

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Falter as Putin and Trump Decline to Attend

First direct negotiations in three years delayed after low-level delegations and leadership absences undermine progress.

Image
Image
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks to journalists as he arrives at Esenboga airport in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Image

Overview

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have both declined to attend the Istanbul peace talks, lowering expectations for a breakthrough.
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, aiming for an immediate ceasefire, but criticized Russia's team as lacking decision-making authority.
  • The Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, excludes senior figures like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, present in Turkey, expressed skepticism about progress without direct engagement from top leaders, reiterating the need for a diplomatic resolution.
  • The talks, initially proposed by Putin, mark the first direct peace negotiations since 2022 but have been postponed, with no clear timeline for resumption.