Russian President Vladimir Putin will not take part in the upcoming peace talks with Ukraine, according to a report by the BBC. The meeting is set to take place on Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Kremlin has released a list of its delegates who will join the talks. Putin’s name is not on that list. This has raised concerns about Russia’s real intent to end the war.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked for Putin to be present. He believes that peace will not come unless the Russian leader joins the discussion in person. Zelensky earlier said he would agree to join the meeting in Istanbul, but only if Putin also took part.
Zelensky and Putin have not met face to face since December 2019. The war between Russia and Ukraine started after that. The two sides did have one round of talks in Istanbul in March 2022, but it led to no lasting results.
Now, the world is once again watching Istanbul. Many hope that this new round of talks will bring both leaders to the table. However, those hopes are fading with Putin staying away.
Instead of Putin, Russia will send Vladimir Medinsky, a top aide to the president. Medinsky has been involved in past talks with Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed in a statement that he will lead Russia’s team in Istanbul.
This decision has disappointed many who were expecting a more serious effort toward peace. Some see Putin’s absence as a sign that Russia is not ready to end the war.
Earlier this week, Putin had proposed to restart talks with Ukraine. This came after Ukraine and its Western allies asked for a 30-day ceasefire. Putin did not agree to the ceasefire but offered talks instead. Moscow has not said anything more about the ceasefire idea.
The war has now gone on for more than two years. Thousands of lives have been lost. Many cities and towns have been destroyed. Both countries have suffered heavy losses. The war has also affected the world economy and caused millions of people to flee their homes.
The United States has played a major role in pushing for new talks. With a new U.S. administration now in place, there are signs that President Donald Trump may also join the talks in Istanbul. This has not been confirmed, but some reports suggest it could happen.
If Trump does attend, it could increase pressure on both sides to find a solution. His presence might also change the tone of the meeting and bring more attention to the talks.
Even so, without Putin, many experts say the talks may not lead to real change. They say peace needs strong action from both sides. A meeting without the two leaders may only be a small step.
Still, some believe it is better to have talks than none at all. They hope the meeting in Istanbul can at least open the door for more serious talks in the future.
For now, all eyes are on Istanbul. The world waits to see if the meeting can bring hope for peace, even without Putin at the table.
