Russia-Ukraine Talks in Istanbul Without Trump and Putin

Diplomatic negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to take place in Istanbul without the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, the Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a historian and president of Russia’s Historical Society. Shortly after, a U.S. official confirmed that Donald Trump will also not attend. These talks come amidst intense diplomatic activity surrounding the anticipated discussions on May 15th. Initially, it seemed that the talks would involve at least foreign ministers, but according to Kommersant, Russia has chosen a different representative. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented in his evening video address, stating he awaits clarification from Russia before deciding Ukraine’s next steps. Zelenskyy criticized Putin for continuing attacks on Ukraine rather than focusing on negotiations. This marks the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv since early 2022 when both sides attempted to agree on a ceasefire during the initial weeks of the war.