Zelenskyy skips Istanbul talks with Russia, delegations press ahead UPDATED

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be travelling to Istanbul for the scheduled talks between Moscow and Kyiv, an unnamed Ukrainian official has confirmed.

However, the Ukrainian delegation is set to attend the meeting alongside the Russian delegation, which remains on standby, waiting for the Ukrainian team to arrive in Istanbul, Caliber.Az reports, citing the French news outlet AFP.

17:26 

The departure of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plane from Ankara to Istanbul is scheduled for 17:30 (GMT+4).

The plane's takeoff was initially planned for 17:00, but it was postponed for half an hour for unknown reasons, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

It also remains unclear whether President Zelenskyy himself will be aboard the aircraft.

Notably, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in person. However, the Kremlin has confirmed that President Putin will not participate, sending a lower-level delegation led by aide Vladimir Medinsky instead.

The absence of President Putin from the talks casts doubt on the potential for substantial progress. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously suggested that a breakthrough was possible, but the lack of high-level Russian participation may hinder the effectiveness of the discussions.

By Khagan Isayev