The media ruled out Zelensky's presence at the talks in Istanbul

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will not personally participate in the talks in Istanbul, instead he will send a delegation there. This was reported on May 15 by the newspaper Le Figaro, citing the AFP news agency.

"Zelensky himself will not go to Istanbul," the agency reports, quoting the words of a senior Ukrainian official.

It is specified that instead, the President of Ukraine will send representatives of the country to Istanbul to meet with the Russian delegation.

Territorial principles: how the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine can begin

And what is capable of disrupting the first direct negotiations in three years?

On the same day, Zelensky announced that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would lead a delegation to the talks in Istanbul. The head of the Kiev regime stressed that the key topic of the talks would be the discussion of a possible ceasefire.

On May 15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the current events related to the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul an intrigue. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the Russian delegation had arrived in the Turkish city for talks with Ukraine and was ready for serious work.

On May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated direct negotiations, inviting the Ukrainian side to resume dialogue on May 15 in Istanbul.