News Today: Russian President Declines Meeting with President Zelenskiy in Turkey

In a move that drew global attention, Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a much-anticipated peace summit in Turkey, instead dispatching a secondary delegation to attend the discussions in Istanbul. This high-profile diplomatic development has captured headlines and sparked strong reactions globally, as featured in News Today.

The summit was to be the first direct negotiation between Russia and Ukraine since March 2022. However, the absence of both top leaders—Putin and Zelenskiy—raised doubts about the potential for meaningful progress. Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and including top military and diplomatic officials, was authorized only to discuss a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Zelenskiy, after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, criticized Russia’s approach, stating, “I feel disrespect from Russia—no meeting time, no high-level delegation. This is personal disrespect to Erdogan and to Trump.” He called Putin’s envoy team “decorative,” underscoring doubts over Russia’s intent.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, whose role has become central in global diplomatic efforts since returning to the White House, said, “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” His remarks, echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reflect skepticism about any progress without top-level intervention.

The Russian delegation, led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, confirmed readiness to negotiate and had preliminary talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. But as hundreds of journalists gathered at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Ukraine’s team was notably absent.

As the war continues into its fourth year with devastating tolls, the failure to secure a high-level meeting underscores the diplomatic gridlock. Putin’s refusal to engage directly, paired with Trump’s conditional involvement, signals a long road ahead for peace in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.