Kremlin names delegation heading to Istanbul for peace talks

The Kremlin has announced the list of officials heading to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine.

However, the list does not include Russian President Vladimir Putin, shooting down prospects of direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lee Seung-jae reports.

After remaining silent on who's headed to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine,.. the Kremlin has finally announced the list of officials taking part.

The delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who was present at the first attempt at peace talks in Istanbul back in March 2022.

Along with Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and the chief of Russia's military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov, will also be at the talks.

Not on the list, though, is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who many speculated could be involved in direct talks.

Despite a much-anticipated sit-down between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, no such talks appear to be on the horizon.

With Putin seemingly out of the picture, U.S. President Donald Trump has also decided not to go to Istanbul.

According to Reuters on Wednesday, citing a Trump administration official, Trump has decided to skip the peace talks.

The U.S. leader has said over the past week that he was considering coming to mediate talks, raising hopes for a trilateral summit between the leaders of the U.S., 러시아 and Ukraine.

Zelenskyy had called on both leaders to come to Istanbul, and also said the presence of Trump could have a major impact on the negotiations.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.