### Putin to Skip Peace Talks in Istanbul, Presidential Aide to Lead Russian Delegation

Amid rising hopes for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the highly anticipated peace talks in Istanbul, scheduled for Thursday. Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s insistence on meeting Putin face-to-face, the Kremlin announced that the Russian delegation will instead be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Ukrainian President Zelensky had earlier expressed his willingness to attend the talks and meet Putin in person, emphasizing his determination to ensure the face-to-face meeting took place. He is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on the same day.

This comes as a significant moment since Putin and Zelensky have not met in person since December 2019. The last direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine occurred in March 2022 in Istanbul, shortly after Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, intense fighting has persisted, with Russian forces gradually expanding their control, primarily in eastern Ukraine.

Initially, Putin had called for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul without any preconditions. Zelensky, in response, promptly declared his intention to attend, expecting Putin to do the same. This development followed calls from Western powers for a 30-day ceasefire, highlighted by European leaders' meeting in Kyiv.

Further complicating matters, former US President Donald Trump indicated a possibility of his involvement in the talks if Putin also attended. Trump, currently in Qatar, expressed uncertainty regarding Putin's attendance but emphasized the potential for ending the war if he were to participate. High-level US involvement is expected, with top diplomat Marco Rubio already in Turkey to engage with NATO foreign ministers before moving to Istanbul for discussions with European counterparts.

While the international community awaits the outcome of the Istanbul talks, the Kremlin remains tight-lipped about their specific contributions. Meanwhile, additional allegations arise, with Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski accusing Russia of recruiting agents for acts of sabotage, a claim Moscow denies.

As the world watches, the Istanbul talks could mark a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict, contingent on the actions and commitments of the participating nations.