Editor's be aware: The article was expanded with Zelensky's feedback.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on Might 15 forward of potential ceasefire negotiations with Russia, whilst Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the talks.
Zelensky's aircraft has landed at Ankara airport because the president first plans to carry talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey's capital.
Talking to journalists on the airport, Zelensky mentioned that the Ukrainian delegation is of the "highest stage," together with Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha, representatives of the navy and the Presidential Workplace, and heads of "all intelligence businesses."
A Russian delegation has additionally arrived to fulfill with Ukrainian representatives for peace talks in Istanbul — with out Putin. The Kremlin has dominated out Putin's journey to Turkey, revealing that the negotiations will as an alternative be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.
Ukraine's president will resolve on his subsequent steps relating to peace talks with Russia after assembly with Erdogan, a supply near the Presidential Workplace advised the Kyiv Impartial.
"We have to perceive what the extent of the Russian delegation is, what their mandate is, and whether or not they’re able to making selections on their very own," Zelensky mentioned after arriving in Ankara.
"As a result of everyone knows who makes selections in Russia," he added, saying Moscow seems to have despatched a "sham" delegation.
U.S. President Donald Trump initially voiced optimism in regards to the prospects of the assembly and recommended he may attend as effectively on Might 16 if progress is made.
"I don't actually consider that Putin himself is able to assembly. It appears to me that he’s afraid," Zelensky mentioned in an interview with Spiegel printed earlier this week.
Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned on Might 13 that Zelensky wouldn’t meet with lower-level Russian officers in Istanbul if Putin failed to seem, saying there can be no level in such negotiations.
Based on the Washington Submit, U.S. and European officers urged Zelensky to not abandon the Istanbul talks no matter Putin's participation.
Whereas not within the playing cards for the Might 15 talks, a presidential-level assembly may sign a breakthrough in stalled diplomatic efforts to finish Russia's full-scale invasion. Zelensky and Putin met solely as soon as throughout the 2019 Normandy 4 assembly in France. Since then, there have been no direct in-person conferences between the 2 presidents.
Zelensky mentioned {that a} potential discuss with Putin would focus on an unconditional ceasefire and an all-for-all prisoner trade.
It’s unclear whether or not Zelensky will nonetheless be part of the Istanbul talks with out Putin's participation.
Kyiv and its allies have proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting on Might 12 as a primary step towards peace — a proposal that Russia has to this point ignored.
Who else is visiting Turkey?
Whereas no extra conferences have been formally introduced, representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia are additionally arriving in Turkey.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Turkey on Might 14 and met with Sybiha in Antalya. Sybiha additionally met with NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.
Trump's particular envoy, Steve Witkoff, is predicted to journey to Istanbul with Rubio on Might 16 to take part in discussions on Ukraine.
The Kremlin revealed its checklist of delegates late on Might 14. Along with Medinsky, Russia is sending Deputy Overseas Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Army Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Protection Minister Alexander Fomin.
Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov is not going to attend, nor will Putin’s international coverage aide, Yuri Ushakov.
There have been no studies of every other scheduled conferences between Ukrainian, U.S., and Russian officers.
The Kyiv IndependentAlex Cadier
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