15:27. US President Donald Trump believes that in order to succeed in peace talks, he needs to meet with Putin. He said this on board a plane during a tour of the Middle East, Sky News reports.
According to Trump, "nothing will happen until I meet with Putin". He did not specify whether he was going to meet.
Earlier, he said that he was not surprised by Putin's absence in Turkey, where Russian-Ukrainian talks were supposed to take place. In the US president's view, Putin's visit depended on whether he would go.
14:52. European diplomats have accused Putin of dragging out the war. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that by sending low-level delegates, the Kremlin is trying to "buy time," Bloomberg reports.
13:35. A meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has begun, Anadolu Agency reports.
12:36. The President's Office announced the purpose of the visit – to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and determine further diplomatic steps of Ukraine for the sake of a full and unconditional ceasefire, achieving sustainable peace and ensuring security.
"Together with the President of Ukraine, there is a high-level delegation in Turkey that can prepare the necessary decisions. We note that Russia has sent a delegation to Turkey, unfortunately, of a rather low level with an unclear mandate. We will inform you about Ukraine's respective steps. We continue to consult with our partners," the OP said.
12:23. The plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has landed in Turkey. He was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Presidential Office and all intelligence agencies.
Zelenskyy will decide whether and in what format the talks with Russia will take place in Istanbul after he meets with his Turkish counterpart.
"I don't know the level of the Russians officially, but from what we see, it looks more like a the prop level," the president said.
12:03. Putin's spokesman Peskov says Putin will definitely not go to the talks.
12:00. Putin is hiding from the meeting and is afraid, sending low-level people. Ukraine's president will meet with his Turkish counterpart, who plays an important mediating role in the peace efforts. In the process, the next steps will become clear, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hryhoriy Tykhyy.
11:55. Russians claim that at the initiative of the Turkish side, talks with Ukraine have been postponed to the afternoon. This was reported by Kremlin resources.
11:12. According to Suspilne, in addition to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Presidential Administration Chief Andriy Yermak, and Deputy Heads of the Presidential Administration Ihor Zhovkva and Ihor Brusylo will be in Turkey today. It is not known whether they will participate in the meeting with the Russians.
10:58. The start time of the talks remains uncertain, Anadolu Agency reports.
10:37. US President Donald Trump has said that he could attend the talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey tomorrow, 16 May, if it is appropriate.
According to journalists, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will decide on the talks with the Russians after he meets with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio – currently visiting Turkey to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers – stated that the US wants to see progress in the peace process over the coming days. Turkish officials said that special representatives Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg would also be in Turkey, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The composition of the Ukrainian delegation has not been officially announced.
9:45. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine is ready to talk to Russian negotiators on only one topic – a 30-day ceasefire.
The Turkish Anadolu Agency, citing the Russian TASS news agency, reported on the arrival of the Russian delegation on Thursday morning. It is headed by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinskiy.
It also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defence Minister Aleksandr Fomin.
9:24. The head of the NSDC’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, denies Russian reports that talks between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. today in Turkey. He suggested that by announcing an incorrect early time for the talks, Russia aims to manipulate the topic. Its propagandists have already begun claiming that Ukraine does not need the talks.