Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine unraveled Thursday as Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to attend, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to declare that "nothing's going to happen" without his own participation. The Kremlin's decision to send a lower-level delegation to Istanbul disrupted plans for the first direct talks between the warring sides since March 2022.
"Look, nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together, OK?" Trump said aboard Air Force One en route to the United Arab Emirates. "He wasn't going if I wasn't there." The remarks, made in response to questions about Russia's delegation level, cast further doubt on the already fragile peace process.
Trump's comments followed reports that the Kremlin had dispatched a team led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin instead of Putin or Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin's absence and said, "There are no preparations" for a Trump-Putin meeting in the coming days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Ankara for the talks, criticized Russia's delegation as unserious and lacking decision-making authority. "We must understand the level of the Russian delegation and what mandate they have - whether they are even capable of making any decisions on their own," Zelenskyy told reporters.
The Russian Foreign Ministry maintained that its team was "ready for serious work," despite accusations from Kyiv and Western diplomats that Moscow was stalling. Turkey had not officially scheduled any meeting, and confusion reigned in Istanbul, where more than 200 journalists and crew waited outside the Dolmabahçe Palace with no clear indication of when or if talks would begin.
Zelenskyy earlier challenged Putin to appear in person and has since backed Trump's proposed 30-day ceasefire. Trump has signaled openness to additional sanctions against Russia and hinted at potential penalties for countries purchasing Russian oil if Moscow appears to be obstructing diplomacy.
Zelenskyy met Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other American officials, reiterating Ukraine's willingness to negotiate. "The level of the Russian delegation is not officially known to me yet, but from what we see - it looks like not a serious level," he said.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot remarked on the optics of the summit, saying there was an "empty chair" where Putin should be. "Putin is stalling and clearly has no desire to enter these peace negotiations, even when President Trump expressed his availability and his desire to facilitate these negotiations," Barrot stated.
While Trump said he would consider joining the talks on Friday if it was "appropriate," White House officials have expressed frustration over the lack of clear progress. Vice President JD Vance has criticized Russia's approach, stating Moscow is "asking for too much" during bilateral discussions.
The war in Ukraine has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands since it began, and territorial control remains a core issue. Russia continues to demand that Ukraine cede territory and renounce NATO membership ambitions, while Ukraine insists on full territorial sovereignty and Western security guarantees.
Russian media reported the arrival of 89 accredited journalists to cover the talks, while U.S. officials set up a base of operations near the palace. American and Turkish security personnel were seen coordinating logistics amid the disarray, underscoring the high stakes and unpredictability surrounding the summit.
