Ukraine Sends Delegation to Istanbul for Russia Peace Talks
Ukraine will send a delegation headed by its Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul, Turkey, for peace talks with Russia on 15 May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Ankara.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to European Pravda.
Zelenskyy stressed that the composition of the Russian delegation in Istanbul shows Moscow's "frivolous attitude" to the talks, as there is no one who actually makes decisions in Russia.
"Nevertheless, despite the rather low level of the Russian delegation, but out of respect for President Trump, the high level of the Turkish delegation and President Erdogan - and still wanting to try to achieve at least the first steps towards de-escalation, towards a ceasefire - I decided to send our delegation to Istanbul," the head of state stressed.
He specified that a part of Ukrainian officials, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, would go to talks with Russian representatives; the head of the Security Service and the Chief of the General Staff, among others, would not be present.
"As for the agenda, their number one mandate will be a ceasefire. They will fly," Zelenskyy added.
The President said he doubted the outcome of the talks, but expressed hope that the Russians "will demonstrate at least something".
Earlier, Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
The Ukrainian president travelled to Ankara expecting the arrival of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin would not go to Istanbul for talks with the Ukrainian delegation.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on 14 May, Russian leader Vladimir Putin approved the list of Russian representatives to participate in talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on 15 May, which he did not join.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday. Earlier, Zelenskyy said he was ready to come to Istanbul if Putin arrived there.