Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks in Turkey are still on but doesn’t say who is going
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 11 proposed direct negotiations in Turkey “without any preconditions”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – The Kremlin said on May 14 that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for possible direct peace talks with Ukraine.
On May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct negotiations in Turkey
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he would attend the talks with Russia only if Mr Putin is also there
Unconfirmed Russian and US media reports said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Mr Yuri Ushakov, Mr Putin’s foreign policy aide, will be in Istanbul to meet their Ukrainian counterparts.
Asked at a daily press briefing on May 14 if the Kremlin could reveal the make-up of the Russian delegation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We will do that when we get an instruction to do so from the President.”
He added: “The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15.”
The planned talks have become the main focus of peace efforts led by US President Donald Trump.
He said he will send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to the talks, and also offered to attend himself. REUTERS
