Putin aide sets condition for Ukrainian delegation

Russia expects the Ukrainian delegation to arrive for talks in Istanbul by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who leads the Russian team, told reporters, according to TASS.

"Tomorrow morning, starting at 10 a.m., we will be waiting for the Ukrainian side to arrive for the meeting. We are ready to work," Medinsky said.

He added that the Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for direct bilateral talks with Ukraine without any preconditions. Earlier on Thursday, the Russian team held what Medinsky described as a “productive” meeting with the Turkish foreign minister.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not personally attend the Russia-Ukraine talks. According to Rubio, the U.S. will be represented by lower-level officials. He expressed hope that Turkish officials would also be present in the negotiation room.

“We came because we were informed that a direct confrontation between Russians and Ukrainians might occur,” Rubio told CNN. He added that he would meet with Ukraine's foreign minister and delegation on Friday, after which a member of the U.S. team would join talks with the Russian side.

Trilateral meetings between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, as well as the U.S., Ukraine and Turkey, are scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Friday, May 16, according to Turkey's foreign ministry cited by RIA Novosti.

The Russia-Ukraine talks, originally scheduled for May 15, were postponed to Friday. The Russian delegation, headed by Medinsky, arrived in Istanbul on Thursday morning.

N.Tebrizli