Istanbul, May 15 (V7N) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will not attend the highly anticipated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday. The absence of these key figures has cast uncertainty over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation in the meeting.

Despite Putin’s recent proposal for direct talks to end the nearly three-year-long war, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday that Vladimir Medinsky, a senior adviser to the Russian president, will represent Russia in the negotiations. Putin’s name was notably missing from the official delegation list.

On the American side, President Trump, who had earlier signaled his willingness to attend, has now opted out. His absence, alongside Putin’s, appears to undermine the weight of the proposed summit.

Reacting to the development, President Zelensky remarked that Kiev's next steps would depend on Russia’s level of engagement. He had earlier stated that Putin’s direct involvement was a precondition for meaningful dialogue.

Zelensky is still expected to travel to Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is mediating the dialogue. However, it remains unclear whether he will proceed to Istanbul for the actual talks without the Russian leader’s presence.

The Istanbul meeting was being hailed as a potential turning point in efforts to negotiate peace in the war-torn region. But with the absence of top leadership from all sides, expectations are now significantly tempered.

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