Putin will not travel to Istanbul for peace talks with Zelenskyy, Kremlin confirms

Vladimir Putin has refused to attend direct negotiations with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul, with his delegation led by Medinsky, a hardline ally who participated in last year's unsuccessful talks that demanded harsh terms from Ukraine. The failed 2022 round led Zelenskyy to reject those conditions, and U.S. officials confirmed President Trump would also skip the current discussions despite earlier urging. The ongoing pressure on Putin has grown as both leaders have called for him to attend the talks, but the outcome remains uncertain with key Russian officials like Yuri Ushakov and Sergei Lavrov not participating.