Putin and Trump to Skip Ukraine Peace Talks

Reuters

US and Russian Presidents.

A high-stakes peace summit on the war in Ukraine, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and scheduled to take place today, 15 May 2025, in Istanbul, will proceed without two of its most high-profile potential participants: Putin himself and US President Donald Trump.

Despite initially calling for the talks, Putin has opted not to attend in person. The Kremlin has confirmed that a delegation led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky will represent Russia instead. Meanwhile, Trump, who had previously expressed support for the summit, has cited scheduling conflicts for his absence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains open to negotiations but insists on a 30-day ceasefire as a prerequisite for meaningful dialogue. He has also reiterated that any peace agreement must include direct Ukrainian involvement, rejecting any deals struck behind closed doors.

The absence of both Putin and Trump casts doubt on the summit’s potential effectiveness, with many observers questioning whether significant progress can be achieved without engagement at the highest level.



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