Putin names delegation for Istanbul talks, will not participate personally

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the composition of Russia’s delegation for the upcoming negotiations in Istanbul, signaling that he himself will not participate in the talks.

According to the list released by the Kremlin, the delegation will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky. Other members include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

The announcement suggests that President Putin does not plan to take part personally in the negotiations, opting instead to delegate the responsibility to senior officials. The talks were suggested by Putin himself after Kyiv and the EU called on him to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine.