President Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with Putin’s absence and the low-ranking Russian delegation in Turkey.

After arriving in Ankara on May 15, Zelenskyy described the Russian contingent as “fake,” contrasting it with the high-ranking officials in the Ukrainian delegation. The Russian delegation was led by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and also comprised 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. Medinsky and Fomin were part of Putin’s team sent to negotiate Ukraine’s surrender in the early days of the invasion.

Western diplomats suggest that Putin’s choice to send junior officials rather than meet Zelenskyy directly eliminates any chance for a breakthrough in negotiations. By appointing Medinsky to lead the delegation, Putin signaled his unwillingness to compromise and his continued intent to achieve the same goals as in 2022 – dismantling Ukraine as a sovereign state.

It’s important to note that Zelenskyy considered withdrawing from the Istanbul talks if Putin did not attend, but American and European allies persuaded him to participate. According to Western partners, the Istanbul meetings could still yield advances in the negotiations, which have currently reached an impasse.