Russia says President Vladimir Putin will not attend peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey. Ukraine's President Zelensky had challenged Putin to meet him saying he would only attend the talks if Putin was there.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump hinted he would attend the talks if Putin showed up the US president is on a four-day visit to the Middle East.
Putin and Zelensky have not met since December 2019. Russia and Ukraine last held direct negotiations in March 2022 in Istanbul. Talks between Ukrainian, Russian, and US delegations will still take place in Istanbul Zelensky is having separate talks with Turkey's President Erdogan in Ankara.