The first peace talks in three years were supposed to begin on Thursday but amid posturing and accusations, they were pushed back at least until Friday.The New York Times reports that the first peace talks in three years between Ukraine and Russia were thrown into confusion and uncertainty as both delegations arrived in different Turkish cities. Notably absent were President Vladimir V. Putin and President Trump, who had expressed interest in attending the talks.
The talks, which were anticipated to take place in Istanbul, were marred by disagreements over the location and format of the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Ankara, criticized Russia for sending a midlevel delegation to Istanbul and accused them of being “unserious” about the talks.
After a day of uncertainty, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would send a pared-down delegation to Istanbul, led by the minister of defense. He stated that this decision was made to show Ukraine’s commitment to peace, even if the chances of success were slim.
Meanwhile, President Trump, who was in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, stated that “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” He had previously expressed interest in attending the talks if “something happened,” but there was no indication of a last-minute summit.
The absence of both Putin and Trump overshadowed the talks, with Zelensky’s appeal for a meeting with Putin being rejected. The uncertainty and confusion surrounding the talks highlight the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with the involvement of other world leaders adding to the complexity of the situation.
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