Putin Not Coming to Istanbul

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not among the names announced by the Kremlin for the delegation set to attend the planned talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.

Following Putin's absence, the White House also confirmed that the U.S. President will not participate in the talks.

During his flight to Qatar as part of his Middle East tour, Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One:"I might go to Turkey. Putin wants me to come too. If I don't go, he won't either. So I may include Turkey as part of my Middle East visit."

Late Wednesday, the Kremlin announced the names of eight officials for the Istanbul negotiations. Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky has been appointed head of the Russian delegation. He will be joined by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and the head of Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU), Igor Kostyukov.

With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to attend, hopes for a personal meeting with Putin have now been dashed.

Source: Euronews Türkçe