Kremlin: Putin has no plans to attend Ukraine Peace Talks in Istanbul

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not currently plan to travel to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine, the Kremlin said Thursday, though a Russian delegation is present and ready to meet with Ukrainian negotiators.

The talks, which would mark the first direct peace negotiations between the two countries in over three years, were proposed by Putin. However, he never indicated he would attend in person. Instead, he has sent a delegation led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky.

When asked whether Putin might travel to Turkey in the coming days, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "There are no such plans at the current time. Our delegation is in Istanbul, waiting for the Ukrainian team, which has not yet arrived."

Peskov also responded to questions about a potential visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently touring three Middle Eastern countries. Asked if Putin would attend the talks should Trump go, Peskov said it was too early to determine the required level of participation.

"It is premature to say what kind of involvement might be necessary, or at what level, since we don’t even know if the Ukrainian negotiators will appear or how the discussions will unfold," he said.

President Trump, during his trip, indicated he might travel to Turkey for the talks on Friday “if it is appropriate.”