Zelenskyy: Ukraine to participate in Istanbul talks despite Russia's 'low-level' delegation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will take part in negotiations with Russia set to take place in Istanbul, with the Ukrainian delegation to be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the composition of the Russian delegation indicates Moscow is not serious about a meaningful dialogue. According to him, key decision-makers from the Russian side are absent from the talks.

“Despite the rather low level of the Russian delegation, out of respect for President Trump, the Turkish delegation, and President Erdoğan—and out of a desire to take at least the first steps toward de-escalation and an end to the war (a ceasefire)—I decided to send our delegation to Istanbul, but not in full,” Zelenskyy said.

He noted that some high-ranking Ukrainian officials will not attend the talks, including Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine’s Security Service, and Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“Nevertheless, the delegation will be headed by Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, even though there will be no equivalent counterpart from the Russian side,” Zelenskyy added.

Russia has kept the composition of its delegation for the Istanbul talks secret for an extended period. Ukraine had anticipated a high-level dialogue, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has instead sent a lower-ranking delegation, led by his aide Vladimir Medinsky.