Ukraine awaits Putin's decision on Peace Talks in Istanbul

Ukraine's leadership will determine its approach to upcoming peace talks in Turkey based on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to attend, a Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly challenged Putin to attend the negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday in person. If the Russian leader accepts, it would mark their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.

“Everything hinges on whether Putin is afraid to come to Istanbul,” the diplomatic source said. “Once we know his decision, Ukraine’s leadership will determine the next steps.”

The Kremlin confirmed Wednesday that a Russian delegation would be present in Istanbul for potential talks but did not disclose who would represent Moscow or whether Putin himself would attend.

The last direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul occurred in March 2022, during the early stages of Russia’s invasion.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he may visit Turkey for the talks during his current Middle East tour, though he noted he was unsure if Putin would appear.

Zelensky has stated that his top priority is achieving an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.