Moscow, May 15 (V7N) — As anticipation builds around the Russia-Ukraine peace talks scheduled to take place in Turkey, the Kremlin has yet to confirm who will represent Russia at the negotiation table. Despite the meeting being set for May 15 in Istanbul, Moscow remained evasive about the composition of its delegation as of Wednesday, leaving key questions unanswered.

According to a report from AFP's Moscow bureau, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that, "Our delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15, waiting for the Ukrainian delegation." However, when pressed about the identities of those in the Russian delegation, Peskov declined to offer any specifics, stating, "There has not yet been a clear directive from the President."

This round of peace talks is particularly significant as it would mark the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the full-scale war began in February 2022. While there were brief contacts and short-lived rounds of discussions in the early months of the conflict, those efforts quickly stalled. The current initiative follows an unexpected development last week when Russian President Vladimir Putin himself called for renewed dialogue.

Although Putin’s invitation raised speculation about a possible high-level engagement, the Kremlin has not confirmed whether the President will personally attend the talks or send senior officials in his place. The uncertainty reflects the sensitive nature of the negotiations and the complex dynamics at play more than two years into the conflict, which has caused tens of thousands of casualties and displaced millions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has not officially disclosed the composition of its own delegation, but sources close to Kyiv suggest that it may include both political and military representatives. Turkish officials, who are hosting the event, have stated that they are prepared to facilitate the dialogue but emphasized that the success of the talks depends entirely on the political will of both sides.

Turkey has previously played the role of mediator between the two countries, most notably during the 2022 grain corridor deal, which allowed safe passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea. Ankara is once again positioning itself as a neutral facilitator committed to regional stability.

As the world watches closely, the Istanbul peace talks are seen as a rare opportunity to de-escalate one of the most dangerous conflicts in recent European history. However, without clear signals from Moscow on its negotiating stance or who will be sitting across from the Ukrainians, the prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain.

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