Moscow, 14 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russia is yet to confirm whether President Vladimir Putin will travel to Turkey on Thursday for peace talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the Interfax news agency on Wednesday that the Russian delegation to the negotiations in Istanbul would be announced when Putin gives the order.

"The Russian delegation will await the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on Thursday," Peskov said, without offering further details on who would be representing Moscow.

Zelensky has confirmed his intention to travel to Turkey personally to meet Putin, arguing that he would not negotiate with any other figure as the Russian president is the decision-maker in the conflict with Ukraine.

The last direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow took place shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and ended without success.

The talks in Istanbul are set to take place days after European leaders convened in Kiev to push for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, warning of further sanctions if Russia did not comply.

Putin responded by offering direct talks in Turkey instead, but it remains unclear whether he will participate.

MIA file photo