Istanbul, Turkey — As the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, a significant diplomatic effort takes place on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not participate in the anticipated peace talks in Istanbul, despite an invitation from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin has announced presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will head Russia’s delegation instead.

Zelensky has expressed his willingness to personally attend the talks and hopes to meet with Putin if the Russian leader decides to participate. Currently, Zelensky is scheduled to be in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two leaders have not met since December 2019, a stark reminder of the deteriorating relations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced in early 2022. Previous negotiations between the nations were held in Turkey last March, but hostilities have persisted, with Russian forces gaining ground, particularly in eastern Ukraine.

Putin had previously called for direct discussions in Istanbul without preconditions, prompting Zelensky’s willingness to engage in face-to-face dialogue. This push for peace talks follows a call from Western leaders for a temporary ceasefire, highlighting the urgency of addressing ongoing violence.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, suggesting he might join the talks if Putin decided to attend. Speaking to reporters while in Qatar, Trump noted he was uncertain about Putin’s attendance without his presence, adding that he would consider participating if it could facilitate an end to the conflict.

The U.S. is expected to send a senior delegation to the peace talks. Marco Rubio, the country’s top diplomat, arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to engage with NATO foreign ministers and will continue to Istanbul for discussions centered on the war. When approached about Putin’s attendance, Rubio refrained from providing a response.

In recent months, Trump has attempted to mediate a ceasefire between the two nations, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations. After a long hiatus, he spoke with Putin by phone in February and has sent envoys to Moscow for discussions regarding the conflict.

As the international community watches intently, the outcome of Thursday’s talks could serve as a critical juncture, with both sides under pressure to find common ground amid the ongoing turmoil of war.