Vladimir Putin will not meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin confirmed late on Wednesday that he would not attend the high-level talks, prompting Washington to confirm that Donald Trump would also not travel to Turkey.

It is unclear if Volodymyr Zelensky will attend as the Ukrainian president had hinged his presence at the talks on a face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader.

He said he is “waiting to see who will come from Russia” before deciding, but added that the signals were “unconvincing”.

According to the Kremlin, the Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinksky, a presidential aide.

Putin had proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine “without any preconditions”, despite Kyiv and its allies demanding a 30-day ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace talks.

Putin and Mr Zelensky last met in December 2019. Kyiv and Moscow have not held direct talks since the early weeks of the war when they met in Istanbul.