Leading European Diplomats Accused Putin Of Derailing Talks With Ukraine

Trump's response followed as well.

Leading European diplomats have accused Vladimir Putin of undermining talks with Ukraine aimed at ending the war. However, the United States has taken a more cautious stance ahead of a possible meeting in Turkey.

This was reported by Bloomberg.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the Kremlin's appointment of a low-level delegation to attend talks in Istanbul showed Putin was trying to "buy time."

"We hope that the president of the United States will see this bullying for what it is and draw the right conclusions," he told reporters ahead of a meeting with NATO colleagues in Turkey's Antalya.

While Ukraine is ready for talks, Russia "wants to continue the war," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful said. "The only empty chair is Russia's."

"It is clear that Russia is only sending a lower-level delegation to Turkey for these peace talks," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters Thursday.

The United States is "open to a constructive approach and any assistance to end the conflict," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is attending a NATO meeting in Antalya. "We'll see what happens in the next couple of days," adding that "we want to see progress."

Rubio is scheduled to join U.S. presidential special envoys Steve Whitkoff and Kate Kellogg in Istanbul on May 16.

Putin announced that the Russian delegation would be led by his aide Vladimir Medinsky, raising doubts about the prospects for any concrete steps to end the war at this week's meetings.

Trump's reaction

U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a tour of the Middle East, signaled that he could still travel to Turkey, although Putin has so far shown no signs of willingness to take part in the talks.

"I thought about going, but it's very difficult because of what we're doing today and tomorrow," Trump told reporters in Qatar. "But you know, if something were to happen, I would go on Friday if it was appropriate."

When asked if he was disappointed that Putin would not go to Istanbul, Trump said he "didn't expect" Putin to come.

"I said I didn't think he would go if I didn't go, and that turned out to be true," Trump said. "I didn't think Putin could go if I wasn't there."

Zelensky's Visit

Zelensky has already arrived in Ankara, where he is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He called the composition of the Russian delegation "bogus". According to him, Ukraine has sent a high-level delegation to Turkey.

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