The Kremlin has confirmed that Russia will not participate in the upcoming talks in Turkey, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to discuss potential resolutions to the ongoing conflict. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Moscow was not invited to the discussions, and current communications are proceeding without Russian involvement.
“There will be no Russian representatives in Turkey tomorrow… We will wait to see exactly what will be discussed in Istanbul,” Peskov stated, indicating a passive interest in the proceedings.
President Zelenskyy previously announced his intention to visit Turkey on November 19th, aiming to “revitalize negotiations” concerning the Ukrainian crisis. He suggested that the Ukrainian delegation would present “developed solutions” to international partners, emphasizing a desire to resume prisoner exchanges. Zelenskyy has not disclosed the specific parties involved in the negotiations or the precise agenda.
Peskov reiterated that Russia remains “open to negotiations,” asserting that its position is well-known in Washington, Istanbul, and Kyiv. He also claimed that Moscow has not received any new signals from the Ukrainian side regarding a willingness to engage in direct dialogue.
In related news, Russia has condemned the agreement between France and Ukraine for the delivery of approximately 100 Rafale fighter jets to Kyiv. Moscow views this move as an escalation that will prolong the war. Peskov stated that “Paris is not contributing to peace but is pushing towards further militarization,” adding that arming Kyiv, regardless of the scale, “will not change anything on the fronts.”
President Zelenskyy has indicated that his trip to Turkey follows a visit to Spain, as part of broader efforts to expedite an end to the war. He also emphasized that Ukraine is actively working to resume prisoner of war exchanges with Russia. The outcome of these diplomatic efforts remains to be seen, but they highlight the ongoing attempts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
DZWatch will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
