In brief
The Kremlin has not confirmed whether President Putin will attend critical negotiations with Ukraine’s leader, amidst growing calls for a ceasefire and pressure from both the U.S. and European allies.
The Kremlin faced scrutiny on Tuesday regarding President Vladimir Putin's potential attendance at peace discussions with Ukraine, following comments from former President Trump about possibly joining the negotiations himself. Trump urged direct dialogue, paralleling statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who confirmed his intention to personally attend the talks in Turkey. Putin had previously indicated a willingness for direct communication but dismissed calls for an immediate ceasefire, stating the urgency of discussions was evident.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov suggested the delegation's details would be announced at Putin's discretion when pressed for specifics on Russia's involvement. Meanwhile, Trump’s potential participation raises the stakes for the Istanbul negotiations scheduled for Thursday. His administration has expressed growing exasperation over the lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire agreement.Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak emphasized that if Putin declines to join the negotiations, it would signal Russia's reluctance to pursue peace, asserting that Kyiv seeks an unconditional truce backed by their European partners. As of now, no new sanctions against Russia have been articulated despite continued pressure from Western allies for compliance with proposed 30-day ceasefire arrangements.
