US President Donald Trump will not attend the upcoming talks in Turkey between Ukraine and Russia, according to reports from Reuters cited by the Ukrainian news agency UNN. The negotiations, scheduled to take place in Istanbul, are expected to be crucial for both nations amid ongoing conflict.
While Trump has chosen to stay away, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already arrived in Turkey ahead of the talks. Rubio’s original purpose was to hold an informal meeting with NATO foreign ministers, but the potential discussions between Kyiv and Moscow have taken centre stage. Rubio is also set to meet with his Syrian counterpart during this time, adding further diplomatic weight to the visit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also confirmed to be travelling to Turkey for the talks, signalling Kyiv’s commitment to the process. However, the Russian dictator will not attend personally. Instead, the Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the dictator, emphasising Russia’s low-level engagement in these crucial negotiations.
The upcoming discussions in Istanbul have also reportedly halted the introduction of new US sanctions against Moscow, as reported by The Washington Post.
