Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday criticized the Kremlin’s choice of delegation for direct talks with Kyiv in Turkey, calling it a “farce.” Upon his arrival in Ankara, the president stressed that his presence in the Turkish capital demonstrates Ukraine’s strong commitment to achieving lasting peace in the face of Russian aggression.
Zelensky voiced frustration over the composition of Moscow’s negotiating team, led by Vladimir Medinsky, a presidential adviser on cultural affairs, and lacking high-ranking political figures or ministers with real decision-making power. “We don’t yet officially know the level of the Russian delegation, but based on what we’ve seen, it looks like a farce,” the Ukrainian leader said, emphasizing the need for negotiators with actual authority.
Zelensky landed in Ankara following an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take part in direct talks proposed by Vladimir Putin. However, the Russian leader chose not to attend, dampening hopes for meaningful progress. “Everyone knows who makes the decisions in Russia,” Zelensky remarked, pointedly referring to Putin’s absence.
According to Moscow, the Russian delegation includes a deputy foreign minister, a deputy defense minister, and a senior official from the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Kyiv announced that it would decide whether to proceed with the planned meeting in Istanbul after Zelensky’s talks with Erdogan.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet at 1:00 p.m. local time (10:00 a.m. GMT) at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, followed by a private meeting and a working lunch with their respective delegations. While no joint press conference is planned, Ukraine’s embassy in Turkey has indicated that Zelensky may speak to reporters after the meeting.
The Ukrainian president’s plane touched down in Ankara at 12:14 p.m. (09:14 GMT) and was met at the airport by Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, who had earlier arrived from Antalya, where an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers is being held.
U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, expressing characteristic skepticism over Putin’s absence. Trump, who had pushed for a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, downplayed the significance of Putin not showing up. He had even said he would be willing to fly to Turkey himself if the Russian president agreed to attend the talks. However, the Kremlin ruled that out. “There are no such plans at this time,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
