The future of Ukraine peace talks remains uncertain after Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump both opted out of attending the high-stakes Turkey summit, a pivotal moment in ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Initially proposed by Putin as a platform to restart direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations “without preconditions,” the Istanbul peace summit was poised to mark a potential breakthrough. However, Russia’s official delegation list—released Wednesday—omitted Putin, naming instead his adviser Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and GRU intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration made clear that only a face-to-face meeting with Putin would suffice. Zelensky stated he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would wait in Ankara, underscoring the urgency for authentic peace efforts. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” said a Zelensky adviser.
Meanwhile, President Trump, who had earlier signaled potential attendance contingent on Putin’s presence, confirmed through U.S. officials that he would no longer participate in the Turkey peace summit. This decision further clouds the trajectory of diplomatic efforts to end more than three years of hostilities in Ukraine.
The absence of both Putin and Trump has drawn criticism from European and American officials. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Western allies “together with the U.S.” are prepared to increase sanctions if Russia rejects calls for an unconditional ceasefire. He voiced support for a proposed 30-day truce.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot revealed coordination with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on a new sanctions package designed to cripple Russia’s economy—potentially imposing up to 500% tariffs on Russian oil and penalizing nations that continue purchasing it.
Former U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane accused Putin of stalling the Ukraine peace process for strategic advantage. Speaking to Fox News, Keane claimed, “Russia has no intention of agreeing to a permanent ceasefire soon. They’re leveraging negotiations to extract unreasonable concessions, including constitutional changes and a demilitarized Ukraine.”
As diplomatic momentum wanes and top leaders retreat from the negotiating table, the window for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict may be narrowing—leaving global leaders to reconsider their strategies for securing a lasting ceasefire.
