Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was ready to cancel peace talks in Istanbul if Russian leader Vladimir Putin failed to attend. However, Western partners persuaded the Ukrainian President not to rule out the negotiations,

Vladimir Putin will not travel to Turkey and is instead sending the deputy foreign affairs and defence ministers, the head of his military intelligence, and the presidential aide, who will lead the delegation,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he does not believe that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would come to Istanbul for direct negotiations with him, although he does not completely rule out the possibility.