Location at a glance: Putin stays away in Istanbul Ukraine negotiations

Without Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, negotiations with representatives of Kiev are to begin in Istanbul to end the Ukraine War. After days of silence, the Kremlin boss let him not travel himself – the multi -member delegation of Moscow was instead listed by his consultant Vladimir Medinski. Shortly afterwards, CNN and Fox News reported that US President Donald Trump – who is currently on the move in the Middle East – also forego a trip to Turkey.

In addition to the Russian president, Putin’s experienced Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrow will also stay away from the talks. Medinski, in turn, who used to be a cultural minister and is considered a political lightweight, was already involved in the negotiations to terminate the war in 2022. The talks ended – also in Turkey – with no result.

It was initially unclear how Ukraine reacts to Putin’s absence. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj had explained before the Russian delegation occupation became known in his evening video message: “Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations and we are not afraid of meetings.” Previously, Selenskyj had repeatedly confirmed that he would personally wait for Putin in Turkey and that the Kremlin boss himself had to sit at the negotiating table because he decides on war and peace alone in Russia.

Putin makes controversial ideologues a chief negotiator

Medinski, on the other hand, is a much smaller number. The 54-year-old is considered one of the formative ideologues in the Putin system and also conveyed a perspective of Russian and Ukrainian history controversial among historians. Scientists and Kremlin critics accuse him of conscious counterfeits and historical clates for political-propaganda purposes.

According to Putin, Vice-Foreign Minister Mikhail Galusin, General Igor Kostjukow from the Russian General Staff and Vice Defense Minister Alexander Fomin also belong to the Russian delegation. In addition, experts from the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, the Foreign Ministry and Presidential Administration are said to be there.

Putin had proposed direct talks in Istanbul himself from Thursday – in response to Selenskyj’s demand for an unconditional ceasefire that should have started on Monday. However, the Kremlin chief did not say whether he would travel personally on Sunday. He had also discussed his project with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been an important agent for both sides since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression.

Trump sends Rubio, Witkoff and Kellogg to Istanbul

US President Trump had asked Ukraine to enter into direct negotiations with Russia. He turned against an ultimatum of Selenskyjs and the “coalition of the willing” from Ukraine allies, who first asked for a ceasefire and then negotiations. The “coalition of the willing” with more than 30 countries includes Germany, Great Britain and France.

Before the media reports about his waiver became public, Trump had once again confirmed his willingness to come to Istanbul – if there was a chance of a solution. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio will definitely be in Turkey, Trump said on the sidelines of his trip through the Golf region. The Foreign Minister of the NATO countries today advise in the Turkish holiday destination Belek near the city of Antalya on the United States’ demand for a drastic increase in defense spending.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha posted photos of himself on the platform X and Rubio, with whom he exchanged efforts in Antalya. According to his ministry, Rubio should continue to Istanbul after the end of the NATO meeting on Friday. In addition to him, according to the White House, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will also be part of the Ukraine talks.

Earlier conversations remained unsuccessful

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of having no real interest in peace negotiations. Moscow accused the Ukrainian side, with western weapons aid to fight back the areas incorporated by Russia. Kiev, in turn, fears that Moscow primarily wants to occupy other Ukrainian areas in order to destroy the state’s statehood.

Under Trump, the United States is a mediator in the conflict. Most recently, there were negotiations in March with the mediation of the Americans in Saudi Arabia – each separated with the Russian and the Ukrainian side. There were no direct conversations between Russians and Ukrainians in Riad, as did a fundamental agreement between the warring parties.

Direct conversations between Russians and Ukrainians about the end of the bloodshed had last existed in 2022 after the beginning of the war – in Turkey. At that time, the signing of an agreement between the warring parties also failed because Russia wanted to be a guarantee for the security of Ukraine, but himself called for a veto law against the intervention of other countries such as the USA or Great Britain. This would make Ukraine completely dependent on the good will of the Kremlin.