ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Russia and Ukraine are set to carry their first direct peace talks in three years, each nations mentioned Thursday, however hopes for a breakthrough remained dim after Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to satisfy face-to-face in Turkey.
Zelenskyy mentioned he’s sending a group headed by his protection minister from the Turkish capital Ankara to Istanbul to satisfy a Russian delegation, regardless that Moscow’s aspect doesn’t embody “anyone who actually makes decisions.”
Few had anticipated Putin to indicate up in Turkey, and his absence punctured any hope of great progress in efforts to finish the 3-year-old conflict that was given a push in current months by the Trump administration and Western European leaders. It additionally raised the prospect of intensified worldwide sanctions on Russia which were threatened by the West.
Zelenskyy, chatting with reporters in Ankara the place he flew Thursday after difficult Putin to sit down down with him, accused Moscow of not taking efforts to finish the conflict severely by sending a low-level negotiating group that he described as “a theater prop.”
His proposal to Putin got here after a flurry of maneuvering final weekend as both sides sought a diplomatic benefit.
The top of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, mentioned in Istanbul the representatives had been prepared to satisfy Ukrainian officers.
“The task of these direct negotiations with Ukraine is to establish long-term peace sooner or later by eliminating the root causes of this conflict,” he mentioned in a quick assertion.
It was not clear once they may meet. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due in Istanbul in Friday.
Zelenskyy, who’s heading Friday to a gathering of European officers in Albania, mentioned that he had determined to ship the delegation to Istanbul to reveal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine desires to finish the preventing.
He mentioned the Ukrainian aspect can be headed by Protection Minister Rustem Umerov and its purpose is “to attempt at least the first steps toward de-escalation, the first steps toward ending the war — namely, a ceasefire.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier welcomed Zelenskyy with an honor guard on the presidential palace in Ankara earlier than the 2 held their very own talks.
The conflict has killed tens of hundreds of troopers on either side and greater than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, in keeping with the U.N., and continues alongside the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) entrance line. Russian forces are making ready a contemporary army offensive, Ukrainian authorities and Western army analysts say.
No less than 5 civilians had been killed and 29 injured previously day, in keeping with authorities in 5 japanese areas of Ukraine the place Russia’s military is attempting to advance.
A weekend of maneuvering
The diplomatic maneuvering started Saturday when European leaders met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and urged the Kremlin to conform to a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as a primary step towards peace. Putin responded early Sunday by proposing direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Then got here Zelenskyy’s problem to Putin for face-to-face talks.
After days of silence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov lastly mentioned Thursday that Putin had no plans to journey to Istanbul within the subsequent few days.
Trump mentioned he was not shocked that Putin was a no-show. He had pressed for Putin and Zelenskyy to satisfy however disregarded the Kremlin chief’s determination to not attend.
“I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” Trump informed reporters at a gathering with enterprise executives in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his go to to the Center East.
Trump mentioned a gathering between him and Putin was essential to breaking the impasse.
“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until (Putin) and I get together,” he mentioned on Air Power One whereas touring from Doha to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.”
Peskov mentioned Putin has no plans to satisfy with Trump within the coming days.
Medinsky, Putin’s aide, is main the Russian group that additionally consists of three different senior officers, the Kremlin mentioned. Putin additionally appointed 4 lower-level officers as “experts” for the talks in Istanbul.
Additionally absent from the talks had been Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s international coverage advisor Yuri Ushakov, each of whom represented Russia at talks with the U.S. in Saudi Arabia in March.
The highest-level Ukrainian delegation included Umerov, Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the top of the Ukrainian presidential workplace Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official mentioned. Zelenskyy will sit on the negotiating desk solely with Putin, mentioned presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.
Putin met Wednesday night with senior authorities officers and members of the delegation in preparation for the talks, Peskov mentioned. Protection Minister Andrei Belousov, Common Employees chief Valery Gerasimov, and Nationwide Safety Council secretary Sergei Shoigu additionally attended.
Russia calls the talks a ‘restart’
The Kremlin billed Thursday’s talks as a “restart” of peace negotiations that had been held in Istanbul in 2022 however shortly collapsed. Moscow accused Ukraine and the West of desirous to proceed preventing, whereas Kyiv mentioned Russia’s calls for amounted to an ultimatum somewhat than one thing either side may agree on.
That delegation additionally was additionally headed by Medinsky.
Putin’s proposal got here after greater than three months of diplomacy kickstarted by Trump, who promised throughout his marketing campaign to finish the conflict swiftly — though it’s been arduous to drag off. The Trump administration in current weeks indicated it would stroll away from the hassle if there was no tangible progress quickly.
Sybiha, the Ukrainian international minister, met with Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday night time within the Turkish metropolis of Antalya, which is internet hosting NATO international ministers to debate new protection funding objectives because the U.S. shifts its focus to safety challenges away from Europe.
Sybiha reaffirmed Ukraine’s assist for Trump’s mediation efforts and thanked the U.S. for its continued involvement, urging Moscow to “reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps” towards peace. “So far, it has not,” Sybiha mentioned.
On Thursday morning, Sybiha additionally met with different European international ministers, together with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, who in a publish on X reiterated the decision for a ceasefire and the specter of “massive sanctions” if Russia doesn’t comply.
“We’re in a very difficult spot right now, and we hope that we can find the steps forward that provide for the end of this war in a negotiated way and the prevention of any war in the future,” Rubio mentioned Thursday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of “standing in the way of peace.”
“There was only one country that started this conflict — that was Russia. That was Putin. There’s only one country now standing in the way of peace — that is Russia, that is Putin,” he mentioned in a go to to Tirana, Albania.
Barrot echoed that sentiment: “In front of Ukrainians there is an empty chair, one that should have been occupied by Vladimir Putin,” he mentioned. “Vladimir Putin is dragging his feet and in all evidence does not want to enter into these peace discussions.”
