Kremlin Remains Silent on Putin's Attendance at Ukraine Peace Talks

As the prospect of peace talks in Turkey looms, the Kremlin has not confirmed whether President Putin will attend, amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has yet to clarify if President Vladimir V. Putin will participate in the upcoming peace talks with Ukraine, which are scheduled to take place this week in Turkey. This uncertainty comes after President Trump suggested he might attend the meeting, emphasizing the urgency for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Over the weekend, President Putin expressed a desire for direct dialogue, yet he overlooked the Ukrainian government's calls for an immediate ceasefire—something allies have warned is essential to avoid further sanctions. In a bold move, President Zelensky announced he would personally attend the talks, challenging Putin to follow suit.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of Russia's delegation, stating that details would be shared once the president makes a decision.

With frustrations mounting, Trump reiterated the inadequacy of progress towards a ceasefire, implicitly questioning Putin's intentions to end the war. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Zelensky, noted that Trump has made it clear that the attendance of both leaders is critical for meaningful discussions to occur. Yermak asserted that Putin's absence from Turkey would suggest Russia’s lack of interest in negotiations.

Heightened pressure from Ukraine's European allies pushed for a 30-day unconditional truce, a proposal initially endorsed by the United States and accepted by Ukraine. When visiting Kyiv over the weekend, European leaders underscored the necessity of a response from Putin by Monday, warning that further sanctions would follow if he failed to comply. However, as of Tuesday afternoon, there were no announcements concerning new sanctions.