Russia and Ukraine Trade Barbs Ahead of Peace Talks in Turkey

Russian and Ukrainian officials exchanged sharp rhetoric as both sides prepared for their first direct negotiations since 2022, set to take place in Istanbul.

“We need clarity on the level of the Russian delegation and what authority they actually have. Can they make decisions, or are they just puppets?” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said upon arriving in Ankara, ahead of talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine’s delegation includes top-level officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Office of the President, the military, and intelligence services. “Our goal is to ensure they have full authority to make decisions that could lead to a just peace,” he said.

Russia fired back quickly. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed Zelensky as “a puppet, a clown, and a loser.”

“He makes dramatic statements just to pressure President Vladimir Putin into attending the talks in person. It’s pitiful,” added Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The Russian delegation landed in Istanbul earlier in the day, led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Putin who previously represented Russia in 2022 negotiations. Other members include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin, and GRU intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov.

According to Russian officials, the two delegations are expected to meet after lunch to begin discussions, though no specific start time has been confirmed. Medinsky said Moscow is committed to seeking a “lasting peace” through these renewed talks—marking the first formal meeting between the two sides in more than three years.

Zelensky said he would determine Ukraine’s negotiating approach after consulting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Hundreds of journalists have gathered near Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace, widely expected to be the meeting venue.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that President Donald Trump remains open to supporting “any mechanism” that could lead to a just peace, emphasizing that “there is no military solution” to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Trump, who has positioned himself as a mediator in the effort to end the war, said he may travel to Turkey on May 16 if he sees “meaningful progress” in the talks.

(Sources: Reuters, RIA Novosti)

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