Russia and Ukraine to Meet Face-to-Face Today... Putin Not on Negotiation Team List

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

Russia and Ukraine are sitting at the negotiation table for the first time in three years, drawing attention to whether a new phase of ceasefire negotiations will be reached.
President Putin will not attend the Istanbul meeting but has shown willingness to negotiate by sending a delegation.
This negotiation, conducted amid pressure from European countries, is expected to impact investors as it is set against the backdrop of potential additional sanctions.

First Time at the Negotiation Table Since June 2022

On the 15th (local time), Russia and Ukraine will meet directly in Istanbul, Turkey, for the first time in three years. Although a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not expected, attention is focused on whether a new phase of ceasefire negotiations will be reached through direct dialogue between the delegations of the two countries.

The Kremlin announced on its website at around 11 p.m. the previous day that President Putin had signed an order to send a delegation, led by aide Vladimir Medinsky, to the Istanbul negotiations. President Putin's name is not on the list of negotiators.

The Kremlin had not clearly stated whether President Putin would visit Istanbul. By disclosing the list of the delegation, it seems to have implied President Putin's absence. As a result, the Russia-Ukraine summit in Istanbul is expected to fall through.

Initially, President Zelensky declared that he would wait in Turkey, demanding direct negotiations with President Putin. There was even talk of a possible trilateral summit in Istanbul, involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, as President Zelensky requested the attendance of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is touring the Middle East. However, after the Kremlin released the list of the delegation without President Putin the day before the negotiations, Reuters reported, citing U.S. officials, that President Trump would not come to Istanbul.

President Zelensky, in a daily briefing before Russia's announcement, stated, "Ukraine is ready for negotiations in any form and is not afraid of talks," indicating his willingness to proceed with negotiations even if President Putin does not come directly to Istanbul.

Russia and Ukraine will sit at the same negotiation table for the first time since June 2022. President Trump has been pressing for a ceasefire with Ukraine and Russia since a phone call with President Putin last February.

This negotiation was initiated after President Putin proposed resuming talks in Istanbul during a press conference on the 11th. It was a proposal made amid European countries' pressure on Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire or face additional sanctions.

Minhyung Lee, Hankyung.com reporter meaning@hankyung.com