Putin spurns Zelenskyy meeting but lower-level Ukraine-Russia talks are still on
apnews.com
Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first direct peace talks in three years, but hopes for a breakthrough are still dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey.

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.

  • blady_blah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    212·
    2 days ago

    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.