ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Delegations from Ukraine and Russia traveled to Turkey Thursday for peace talks, but while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was present, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin stayed away, prompting criticism from Western officials that the Kremlin isn’t serious about the efforts to end the war.
Zelenskyy said the Russian delegation appeared to be merely “decorative.” Speaking at the airport in the Turkish capital, Ankara, he said the next steps for talks would be decided after his upcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin, will lead the Russian team that will also include three other senior officials, the Kremlin said. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as “experts” for the talks in Istanbul.
Putin wants Ukrainian capitulation, not peace. He thought Trump would deliver it for him, but seems to have underestimated Trump’s near-infinite incompetence.
To be fair, everyone has underestimated his incompetence that hoped he would enact their insane dreams. Steve Bannon, Putin, Curtis Yarvin, Kevin Roberts, the Proud Boys and 3Pers, Kanye, etc.
Its the fascists strong man dance. They all end up stepping on each other’s toes cause they have no rhythm. They will all scratch each other’s faces eventually. A man can’t have two masters and they all want to be master.
Trump stayed away as well.
Zelenskiy is screwed, all because the rest of the world doesn’t care enough to stand up to either Putin or Trump.
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin stayed away, prompting criticism from Western officials that the Kremlin isn’t serious about the efforts to end the war.
Literally a cosmetic delegation from russia. There’s no agreement to reach with them.
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Peace talks usually don’t include the real leaders. This really seems to be a non story.
Negotiations are done by lower level diplomats and the agreement is signed off by the leaders. That’s diplomacy 101. Name one major 20th century diplomatic deal that was negotiated by the leaders in person. I know we all hate Putin and Russia here, but let’s not be stupid in our criticism.
