Putin, Trump to skip Ukraine peace talks, Kremlin says

Putin will not attend Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been listed in a delegation that will head to Turkey for ceasefire talks with Ukraine. The Kremlin said its delegation at the talks will be led by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and include three other officials. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft is continuing his conversation with national security analyst Hal Kempfer.

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to take place Thursday in Istanbul, but neither President Vladimir Putin nor President Donald Trump will attend, according to confirmations from the Kremlin and reporting by Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be present, alongside a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It would mark the first such meeting between Russia and Ukraine in three years.

Putin and Trump absent from the table

The backstory:

The Kremlin announced Wednesday that Putin will not attend the talks in person. Instead, Russia will be represented by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

Trump, who had earlier floated the idea of joining the summit, will also be absent, according to U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters late Wednesday. He is currently visiting the Middle East and had publicly encouraged Zelensky to accept Putin’s offer.

"Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY," Trump posted Sunday on Truth Social. "At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible… HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!"

What they're saying:

Zelensky responded quickly to Putin’s invitation, saying he would "be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally." It remains to be seen whether Russia’s delegation will enter serious negotiations or if this is primarily a diplomatic gesture.

Speaking from Qatar on Wednesday, Trump maintained a hopeful tone: "I think we’re having some pretty good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow and maybe Friday, frankly."

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a Russian-Malaysian bilateral meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on May 14, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. Prime Minister of Malaysia arrived in Moscow for 4-day official visit to Russia. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

He also warned that failure to reach a peace deal could result in further consequences for Moscow. "If it doesn’t work, there will be secondary sanctions," Trump said, referencing his administration’s pressure campaign on Iran as precedent.

What's next:

While the Istanbul meeting is not expected to produce an immediate peace agreement, it represents the most significant diplomatic opening since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both the U.S. and Russia are sending top-level envoys rather than heads of state, underscoring a cautious approach to negotiations.

The last time Zelensky and Putin held direct talks was in 2019. If successful, this week’s meeting could reopen channels that have long been closed by war and geopolitical posturing.