Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Istanbul for peace talk s with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Kremlin said.

This ends the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, the first proposed since the start of the war. There had also been long-standing speculation that the two leaders could be joined by US President Donald Trump, who is currently on a visit to Middle Eastern nations.

Instead, the Kremlin announced late on Wednesday that its delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a close aide to Putin who also headed the last direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.

Tough negotiators in Russian delegation

Medinsky will be accompanied by Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and Igor Kostyukov, the head of Russia’s military intelligence agency.

Zelenskyy was travelling to Ankara on Wednesday evening and is all set meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

If Putin does not come, he don’t want peace: Zelenskyy

Earlier, the Ukrainian president said he is ready to travel to Istanbul at any time if the Russian leader agrees to come.

“If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is final proof that he does not want to end the war,” Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.