Topline
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend peace talks in Ukraine scheduled to take place in Turkey on Thursday, according to an announcement from the Kremlin, while President Donald Trump, who said he would attend if Putin did, will also not show up for negotiations.
Putin will not attend peace talks in Turkey on Thursday. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
Putin was not named on the Russian delegation list for the peace talks, which said presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky would head the delegation.
Trump previously said he would join the negotiations in Turkey’s capital of Ankara if Putin attended, though senior U.S. officials will still attend without him, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Bloomberg and the Journal have characterized members of Russia’s delegation as “low-level” and “junior” officials, with the latter outlet reporting the selection of low-ranking members “foreclosed the possibility of any breakthrough,” citing Western diplomats.
Putin will not attend despite offering the peace talks to Ukraine this week, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin would need to accept a 30-day ceasefire before any talks began.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.