While Putin has never publicly responded to the request for a cease-fire, a social media position by American president Donald Trump, who prompted the two parties to conclude an agreement to end the war, said the Russian chief “did not want a cease-fire. He nevertheless asked Zelenskyy to accept the offer and the Ukrainian chief was to attend.
Trump also had to join the talks – although only if Putin did it too – according to his special envoy Keith Kellogg.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were killed in the war. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for War Crimes linked to the conflict.
A delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, one of Putin’s aid, will still go to Istanbul for negotiations, according to an announcement from the Kremlin.
Politices
