Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be part of the official Russian delegation set to attend peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey. The discussions are scheduled for Thursday, but Putin’s name was absent from the list of participants released by the Kremlin on Wednesday.
The delegation will include senior Russian officials such as presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Yuryevich Galuzin, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. These talks follow Putin’s proposal for negotiations without preconditions, which he made public on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had responded by saying he would only attend if Putin did as well.
However, with Putin not going to Turkey, Ukraine’s participation now appears uncertain. President Zelenskyy has been cautious in responding to the Russian proposal and has stated that he will decide his next steps based on who arrives from the Russian side.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier said he was considering joining the talks if Putin attended, will also not travel to Turkey. This was confirmed by a U.S. official following the release of the Russian delegation list. Instead, Trump’s senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will represent him in Istanbul. These envoys have been involved in foreign policy matters during Trump’s presidency and are known for their roles in informal diplomatic missions.
Sources familiar with the plan said Witkoff and Kellogg would arrive in Turkey before the talks begin. Their presence signals continued interest from the Trump-aligned side in playing a role in the peace discussions, even in an unofficial capacity.
On Wednesday night, Ukrainian officials confirmed that Zelenskyy was on his way to Ankara. However, it remains unclear if he will travel to Istanbul for the actual meeting. His earlier remarks suggested he was skeptical of Russia’s true intentions. With the ongoing attacks on Ukrainian territory, the Ukrainian government has maintained that it will not accept any ceasefire that does not include a full Russian withdrawal.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022 and has caused significant human and economic damage. Over 500,000 people have been killed, injured, or displaced. Multiple efforts at ceasefire and negotiations have failed, with both sides blaming each other for the lack of progress.
Turkey has positioned itself as a neutral ground for talks since the start of the conflict. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly offered to mediate and was involved in earlier peace efforts and in the Black Sea grain export deal. Hosting the upcoming meeting is part of Turkey’s continued role as a regional mediator.
Despite the absence of both Putin and Trump, diplomats hope the presence of senior representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the Trump camp may still open a path to some form of progress. However, expectations remain low. Analysts say that unless there is a real commitment from Moscow to stop military operations, no agreement will hold.
The talks in Istanbul will likely focus on establishing terms for a potential ceasefire, prisoner swaps, and humanitarian access to conflict zones. Previous rounds of negotiations have ended without any lasting agreements, so observers are watching closely for any sign of change.
The international community has urged both sides to pursue peace, but deep mistrust continues to block meaningful progress. Russia’s military actions and Ukraine’s defensive stance remain at the center of the deadlock.
As the talks proceed, the world watches to see whether this meeting will offer a turning point or become another missed opportunity in a long and painful war.
