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3mo 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.

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