Kremlin says Putin won’t attend Turkey talks; meeting postponed to afternoon

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. The meeting, originally scheduled for the morning, has been postponed to the afternoon at the request of the Turkish side, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Zakharova said the Russian delegation had already arrived in Istanbul and was “ready for serious work,” reiterating that the purpose of Putin’s proposed talks is to address the root causes of the conflict and lay the foundation for long-term peace.

Ukrainian media reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Turkey alongside Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. However, it remains unclear who among them will take part in direct talks with the Russian side.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, speaking from the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Antalya, criticized Russia’s decision to send a low-level delegation. Lammy told the BBC the move casts doubt on Russia’s seriousness, while Tsahkna called it “a slap in the face to diplomacy.”

Zelensky is expected to hold a press conference following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, where he may outline Ukraine’s approach to further talks.