Zelensky in Ankara: 2-hour 45-minute summit with Erdoğan

It has been reported that the Russian delegation that will participate in the Istanbul negotiations has arrived in Turkey. The Russian news agency Tass, citing an anonymous source, reported that the Russian delegation that will negotiate with Ukraine has reached Istanbul and that the talks are expected to begin at Dolmabahçe at 10:00 AM Turkish time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously approved the names who will represent Russia in the negotiations to be held in Istanbul. Putin's name was not included in the approved delegation.

The delegation will be led by Putin's Advisor Vladimir Medinsky. Medinsky also led the negotiations in 2022.

The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.

The list of experts includes Deputy Head of the Information Department of the Russian General Staff Alexander Zorin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Humanitarian State Policy Yevgeniya Podobreyevskaya, Director of the Second Department of the Commonwealth of Independent States of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Polishchuk, and Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense Vladimir Shevtsov.

On the other hand, the uncertainty regarding whether US President Donald Trump would attend the negotiations has been clarified. Trump said in a statement in Qatar today, "I may go to Turkey. Putin wants me to attend the summit as well."

However, according to a Reuters report citing US officials, US President Donald Trump will not attend the ceasefire talks in Istanbul.

ZELENSKY IN ANKARA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Ankara to meet with AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The meeting began at 13:52.

The meeting between Erdoğan and Zelensky lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes.

The bilateral meeting and the working lunch between the delegations, which took place behind closed doors at the Presidential Complex, lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) İbrahim Kalın, and Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç were also present at the meeting.

News Source: 12punto