The stage was set for a major peace summit in Turkey. Leaders from Ukraine, Russia, and the U. S. were expected to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine. However, the event took a surprising turn when two key figures decided to skip the meeting. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and Donald Trump, the former U. S. president, both chose not to attend the talks in Istanbul. This decision left many wondering about the future of the peace process.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been under pressure to participate in the talks. Trump had pushed for the meeting, suggesting that Ukraine should agree to discuss peace with Russia immediately. However, Zelenskyy was cautious. He wanted to see who would be representing Russia before making a decision. The signals from Russia were not convincing, according to Zelenskyy. He expressed skepticism about the talks, stating that he was "waiting to see who will come from Russia. " This uncertainty made it difficult for him to commit to the meeting.

    The Kremlin had been vague about Putin's attendance. Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, had avoided confirming whether the Russian president would be present. When asked about Putin's plans, Peskov mentioned that the president had "work meetings" instead of traveling to Turkey. This lack of clarity added to the confusion surrounding the talks. Finally, Peskov confirmed that Putin would not be attending the talks. This news came as a blow to those hoping for a high-level discussion.

    Despite Putin's absence, the Kremlin sent a delegation to Istanbul. The team was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a presidential aide, and included several high-ranking officials. The Russian delegation was ready to engage in discussions, but the absence of Putin raised questions about the seriousness of Russia's commitment to the talks. The Kremlin had held a late-night meeting to discuss the talks, but this did not seem to change Putin's decision to stay away.

    The U. S. also sent representatives to the talks, but Trump was notably absent. Senior U. S. envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, traveled to Istanbul. Their presence showed that the U. S. was still interested in the peace process, even without Trump. However, the absence of both Putin and Trump made it unclear whether the talks would be as productive as hoped.

    Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on the same day as the talks. This meeting could provide an opportunity for Zelenskyy to discuss the situation with a key ally. Andrii Yermak, the head of Zelenskyy's office, was expected to attend the negotiations in Istanbul, but there was no official confirmation of his participation. The uncertainty surrounding the talks left many wondering about the next steps in the peace process.

    The absence of Putin and Trump raised questions about the future of the peace talks. Without these key figures, it was unclear whether the discussions would lead to any significant progress. The talks in Istanbul were seen as a crucial opportunity to move forward with the peace process, but the lack of high-level attendance cast a shadow over the event. The world watched and waited to see what would happen next.

PUTIN AND TRUMP ABSENCE

The Big Miss: Key Players Skip Ukraine Peace Talks

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