In a fiery diplomatic standoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Russia for sending what he calls “stand-in props” to crucial peace negotiations in Turkey—insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself should be present at the talks.
While speaking in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, Zelensky didn’t mince words as he directly challenged Putin to face him one-on-one in a bid to resolve the ongoing war. The meeting, originally seen as a glimmer of hope for a possible breakthrough in the conflict, now appears to be losing momentum fast.
“Russia is playing games with peace. Instead of sending real decision-makers, they’re sending stand-ins who have no power to agree on anything,” Zelensky declared. His bold remarks followed confirmation from Moscow that Putin would not be attending the talks in person.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry lashed out with scathing remarks, labeling Zelensky a “clown and a loser.” The insult-laden rebuttal has only further deepened the diplomatic rift and cast a shadow over the already fragile hopes for progress.
As of now, Turkish diplomatic sources have told the BBC that “no meeting is scheduled” between Ukrainian and Russian officials, contradicting earlier statements from Moscow claiming the discussions were postponed until later today.
BBC journalist Vitaliy Shevchenko, reporting from Istanbul, noted that expectations for a meaningful outcome were slim from the start—but now they’re fading rapidly.
The absence of Putin has led many analysts to question the seriousness of Russia’s participation. Without top-level leadership at the table, there’s growing concern that these talks are more about optics than actual progress.
Zelensky’s direct challenge to Putin may be a strategic move to apply pressure both internationally and domestically, positioning himself as a leader willing to face his adversary head-on—while painting Russia as evasive.
Whether or not the Kremlin will respond with more than insults remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that the war of words continues to escalate, even as the need for genuine peace talks becomes more urgent by the day.
