Without President Putin, Russian Delegation Arrives In Turkey For Peace Talks With Ukraine
JAKARTA - The Russian delegation arrived in Turkey to take part in direct talks with Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin not included in the delegation despite its awaited presence.
A source told TASS the Russian delegation had arrived in Istanbul to follow the negotiations planned to be held today.
"Delegation has arrived in Istanbul," the source said, launching TASS May 15.
The delegation was led by Russian aide to president Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, head of the General Staff Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday evening announced the composition of the Russian delegation to negotiate with Ukraine, with his name not on the list.
Speculation about President Putin's presence has enveloped the meeting since he proposed it himself last week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would attend the talks if President Putin attended.
The order issued by President Putin on the Kremlin website said the delegation included two officials taking part in a series of final talks held between the two sides in the first weeks after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
They include presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
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Igor Kostyukov, director of the GRU's Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia's Foreign Military Intelligence Service, was also named as part of the delegation. Kostyukov was identified in the Kremlin's announcement as Head of the General Staff Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.
In addition, there was also Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Galuzin who was also appointed as part of the delegation.
Previously, Russia and Ukraine had conducted direct negotiations in the early days of the 2022 conflict. The meeting was held in Belarus and then Russia, but no agreement was agreed upon at the time.