Putin Misses Turkey Peace Talks as Zelenskyy Questions Russian Delegation

Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped peace talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Turkey. Zelenskyy criticized the Russian delegation as “theatrical” amid calls for a ceasefire. Trump urged Ukraine to engage and questioned the likelihood of a deal. The absence of Putin raises concerns over international negotiation efforts in a war that has seen heavy casualties.

In a surprising turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin chose to skip the anticipated peace talks in Turkey with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting, initially accepted by Zelenskyy after a weekend proposal by Putin, was set against the backdrop of mounting international pressure for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

The proposal for direct talks came after leaders from Europe demanded that Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire lasting at least 30 days or face “massive” repercussions. Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about the Russian delegation’s seriousness, saying it appeared “theatrical.” He noted that Ukraine’s response would depend on further discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We will have several hours for an important discussion and very important decisions,” Zelenskyy stated on X. He emphasized the need to understand the delegation’s mandate, questioning their authority to make any concrete decisions on behalf of Putin. This highlights the ongoing uncertainty about who exactly holds the power in the Russian government.

Former President Donald Trump, who previously encouraged Zelenskyy to engage with Putin, aired his frustration over the stalled negotiations on Truth Social. Trump remarked, “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine,” and urged immediate agreement on the proposed talks. He cited the necessity for Ukraine to understand whether a deal could be achieved moving forward and insisted that European leaders and the U.S. need clarity on the negotiations.

Trump further expressed doubt regarding Ukraine’s ability to strike a deal with Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader is preoccupied with commemorating World War II victories, attributing U.S. support as crucial to those successes. He ended his statements with an appeal for the meeting to happen as soon as possible.

The Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed that Putin had no plans to travel to Istanbul, contradicting expectations for the talks. Peskov stated there are no forthcoming meetings scheduled between Putin and Trump either.

During a recent trip to the Middle East, Trump stated, “I don’t believe anything’s going to happen until (Putin) and I get together,” highlighting his perspective on the deadlock. He framed the urgency of resolving the conflict as imperative due to the ongoing casualties and humanitarian toll.

The international community continues to grapple with the devastation of the war, with the U.N. reporting tens of thousands of military casualties and over 12,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths since the conflict escalated. As Russian forces gear up for another military offensive, the stakes for negotiations remain critically high.

In summary, the absence of President Putin from the peace talks in Turkey underscores ongoing tensions and the uncertainty surrounding the conflict with Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s remarks about the Russian delegation suggest a lack of trust in their negotiating authority. Meanwhile, Trump’s interventions highlight the complex web of international diplomacy at play amid calls for a ceasefire in an increasingly deadly war. With the human cost mounting, the urgency for effective dialogue and resolution has never been clearer.

Original Source: abc7amarillo.com