Russian leader Vladimir Putin does not intend to agree to meet face -to -face with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr in Istanbul – wrote the independent Russian Moscow Times on Wednesday evening, citing government sources and similar to the Kremlin.
Moscow still has not revealed who would represent the Russian side on the talks planned for Thursday with the Ukrainian side in Turkey about the end of the war.
The sources estimated that Putin, who has long been trying to discredit the Ukrainian president, does not consider Zelanski “as equal” and will agree to meet him only in the case of his “public capitulation.”
Moscow can prepare such a plan
At the same time, the Kremlin cannot directly reject this challenge because of the US President Donald Trump, whom Putin wants to convince that Russia cares about peace.
In the opinion of Moscow Times, silence around Russian plans is a tactic whose goal is that Kiev and his allies remain in the ambulance. This movement also allows you to change plans at the last minute.
However – one of the sources admitted – Despite the fact that Putin's visit to Turkey is unlikely, it still cannot be completely ruled out.
The portal wrote that the Kremlin deliberately drags tension, and the Russian authorities are currently considering several possibilities. One of them assumes that Putin can fly to Turkey, but he will not meet with Zelanski. Instead, he might want to meet Trump there.
Zelanski said on Wednesday that he expected who would represent Russia on Thursday conversations in Istanbul about the suspension of weapons and depending on this he would make further decisions. On Tuesday, he stated that he wanted to negotiate the unconditional 30-day suspension of weapons at a face-to-face meeting with Putin.
In the evening statement, Zełnski announced: “Today we had several meetings with the team about the format in Turkey. I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide what steps Ukraine should take. So far the signals from the media are unconvincing“.
The Ukrainian president also referred to reports that Donald Trump was considering participating in talks in Turkey. “This can become the strongest argument. This week can really change a lot – but only it can. Everything is decided now ” – he emphasized.
Then he thanked everyone who supports efforts to peace conversations and put pressure on Putin. “Russia only extends war and murder,” emphasized Zelanski.
