Zelenskyy: Russian delegation that arrived in Istanbul is largely a ‘theatre prop’
Pjotr Sauer
Pjotr Sauer is in Ankara for the Guardian
In his first comments after landing in Ankara, Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian delegation that had arrived in Istanbul as largely a “theatre prop.”
“We’re in contact with the American side, I believe they’ll also be present in Turkey at a high level,” he said. “As for the Russians, we’ll see. Nothing has been confirmed officially, but from what we’ve observed, it looks more like a theatre prop than a serious one.”
“What we do know for certain,” he added, “is who actually makes decisions on the Russian side. And we will act accordingly.”
The Kremlin has said its delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Vladimir Putin who headed the only previous round of direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in 2022.
Notably, Russia is not sending its two top diplomats – Yuri Ushakov and Sergei Lavrov – both of whom have taken part in earlier high-level negotiations with US officials in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow’s decision to once again appoint Medinsky suggests the Kremlin is attempting to revive talks based on the same framework as in 2022 – a round widely seen as fruitless due to Russia’s maximalist demands, including restrictions on Ukraine’s military and sovereignty.
“This is all just a performance – a simulation of peace talks,” Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who resigned over the war told the Guarsian.
Bondarev said Putin proposed the talks in Turkey with the aim of convincing Trump that he was committed to peace, while continuing the fighting on the ground.
Key events
No time has been set for talks between officials from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, where there is currently a technical-level Russian delegation and some US officials, a Turkish foreign ministry source has told Reuters
“No time has been set for a meeting yet. In this respect, there is no question of a postponement,” the source said.
Zelenskyy: Russian delegation that arrived in Istanbul is largely a ‘theatre prop’
Pjotr Sauer
Pjotr Sauer is in Ankara for the Guardian
In his first comments after landing in Ankara, Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian delegation that had arrived in Istanbul as largely a “theatre prop.”
“We’re in contact with the American side, I believe they’ll also be present in Turkey at a high level,” he said. “As for the Russians, we’ll see. Nothing has been confirmed officially, but from what we’ve observed, it looks more like a theatre prop than a serious one.”
“What we do know for certain,” he added, “is who actually makes decisions on the Russian side. And we will act accordingly.”
The Kremlin has said its delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Vladimir Putin who headed the only previous round of direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul in 2022.
Notably, Russia is not sending its two top diplomats – Yuri Ushakov and Sergei Lavrov – both of whom have taken part in earlier high-level negotiations with US officials in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow’s decision to once again appoint Medinsky suggests the Kremlin is attempting to revive talks based on the same framework as in 2022 – a round widely seen as fruitless due to Russia’s maximalist demands, including restrictions on Ukraine’s military and sovereignty.
“This is all just a performance – a simulation of peace talks,” Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who resigned over the war told the Guarsian.
Bondarev said Putin proposed the talks in Turkey with the aim of convincing Trump that he was committed to peace, while continuing the fighting on the ground.
As we await a decision over whether there will be any direct talks taking place in Istanbul later today, Russia’s military has announced that it has seized two further settlements in eastern Ukraine.
Reuters reports that Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane has landed at Esenboğa airport in Ankara, and is expected to speak with president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan within the hour.
Pjotr Sauer
Pjotr Sauer is a foreign correspondent for the Guardian
I’m at Ankara airport, where a small group of reporters has gathered to await the arrival of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s jet. The Ukrainian president is expected to meet with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital later today, after traveling from Poland with a top-level delegation.
Meanwhile in Istanbul, a Russian delegation led by ultra-conservative Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky landed early on Thursday. But the day’s events have been marred by confusion and uncertainty, with no clear indication of when – or even if – the first round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place.
For now, Ukraine’s delegation – which includes defence minister Rustem Umerov and presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak – is expected to remain in Ankara.
According to one source familiar with the plans, Zelenskyy may dispatch his top aides to Istanbul only after concluding his meeting with Erdoğan – suggesting that any negotiations with the Russian side would likely begin later in the afternoon, if they happen at all. Zelenskyy himself has indicated he will not travel to Istanbul unless Vladimir Putin also agrees to attend.
Reuters has a quick snap that according to the Russian foreign ministry, talks will begin this afternoon in Istanbul. It is just approaching noon there now.
Unclear what format or when Russia-Ukraine talks may take place in Istanbul today
Ruth Michaelson
Ruth Michaelson is in Istanbul for the Guardian
Outside the Dolmabahçe palace in Istanbul, there is a large crowd of expectant media and no sign of any negotiating teams so far.
Cameras from Turkish, Russian, and Polish news channels have their lenses trained on the grand wooden door and Turkish presidential seal that mark the entrance to the palace courtyard, which runs alongside the grand Ottoman-era building where talks are expected to be held sometime today.
The Dolmabahçe palace has been the site of previous negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv that secured a deal to allow the export of Ukrainian grain in 2022. Failed peace talks also took place between the Russian and Ukrainian sides in the southern Turkish city of Antalya and in Istanbul that year.
But with Russian leader Vladimir Putin no longer expected in Turkey for this round of negotiations about a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, it’s unclear what the potential outcome of today’s talks might be, or even what talks in Istanbul could look like.
Putin on Sunday proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to state he would be waiting for Putin here in Istanbul, eager to show Washington he is serious about peace. Instead, Zelenskyy will meet with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, amid reports he will make a decision about sending a delegation to Istanbul following the meeting.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow last night that Putin held a meeting to prepare their delegation for the talks, along with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, defence minister Andrey Belousov, chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov, security council secretary Sergei Shoigu and head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov.
However it is several of their deputies who have reportedly arrived here in Istanbul and are expected to show up at the Dolmabahçe palace today. A list of delegates posted on the Kremlin website said the Russian delegation will be spearheaded by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, alongside deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin, deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin and intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
Tass, citing Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, is reporting that Russia’s talks delegation has arrived in Istanbul.
UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, who is in Turkey for informal talks with Nato foreign ministers, has spoken about the proposed direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, which may take place in Istanbul today. PA Media quotes Lammy saying:
We come with one single message to stand by Ukraine and to ensure that we get a just and lasting, enduring peace.
And the readiness for that peace is demonstrated by president Zelenskyy being here in Turkey as well.
And of course, we watched closely as we head to these talks, noting the Russian low-level individuals who are coming to represent the Russian side.
US president Donald Trump has said today that he would go to Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey on Friday “if it is appropriate”, Reuters reports.
