Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey for peace talks, but Putin absent from delegation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the media upon his arrival at Ankara airport. Pic/AFP

A low-ranking Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, while a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and including Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andriy Yermak landed in the Turkish capital Ankara. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not part of the Moscow delegation, prompting criticism from Western officials that the Kremlin isn't serious about the peace effort.

Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin, is to lead the Russian team that also included three other senior officials. Putin also appointed four lower-level officials as "experts" for the talks.

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy challenged Putin to meet in person in Turkey to talk about ending the war. Zelenskyy said he would travel to Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and wait for Putin.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was not surprised that Putin was a no-show for the peace talks. "I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there," he told reporters in Doha on Thursday.

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