Zelenskyy to Skip Crucial Istanbul Peace Talks

Ukraine's Zelenskyy to Skip Istanbul Peace Talks Amid Putin's Absence ISTANBUL, May 15, 2025 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will not be attending the peace talks scheduled in Istanbul today. This decision comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's own absence from the negotiations. However, Zelenskyy confirmed that a Ukrainian delegation, headed by the Minister of Defense, will still participate. "Despite the limited presence of the Russian delegation," Zelenskyy stated in a recent press conference, "we are sending our delegation to Istanbul to demonstrate our commitment to peace and to explore every avenue for de-escalation." He added that he hopes for clear signals from both the United States and Turkey regarding the specific time of the planned meetings. The absence of both leaders casts a shadow over the prospects for progress in the ongoing conflict. The focus now shifts to the Ukrainian delegation and their ability to achieve meaningful dialogue with the Russian representatives present. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as the day progresses.