Tinotenda Hove -U.S. President Donald Trump stated Thursday that real progress toward ending the war in Ukraine will only be possible after a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin—dismissing ongoing peace talks in Turkey as ineffective.

“Nothing is going to move forward until Putin and I sit down face to face,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the United Arab Emirates. “He wasn’t going to attend unless I was there. Like it or not, that’s just the reality. Too many people are dying, and we have to solve it.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had arrived in Turkey prepared for serious negotiations, but Putin opted out, instead dispatching a lower-level delegation—a move that frustrated Kyiv and cast significant doubt on the effectiveness of the summit.

Zelenskyy led a high-level Ukrainian team, including his chief aide and the foreign and defense ministers, aiming to demonstrate to Trump that Russia continues to be the primary obstacle to any meaningful peace process. Ukraine also hoped the gesture would reinforce U.S. commitment and press Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov downplayed Zelenskyy’s presence and reiterated Moscow’s long-held stance that any ceasefire would simply allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm. Russia, Lavrov maintained, remains committed to its original invasion goals, including Ukraine’s demilitarization, the abandonment of NATO membership ambitions, and reinstating Russian language, cultural, and religious dominance.

Kyiv officials, increasingly skeptical of Moscow’s intentions, dismissed the Turkish talks as a performance lacking genuine substance.

“The Russian seat in Turkey is effectively empty,” a senior Ukrainian diplomat said on condition of anonymity. “It makes little difference whether Putin sends his underlings or not—they aren’t the decision-makers. Putin either fears showing up or doesn’t take the U.S.-led peace initiative seriously.”

Despite reservations, the Ukrainian side is considering sending representatives to at least gauge whether the Russian delegation is authorized to make any decisions. “If there’s a chance for real conversation, we’re open to it. Otherwise, we’ll view this for what it likely is—another staged gesture by Moscow,” the diplomat added.

Following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Zelenskyy announced that a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would participate in the Istanbul discussions out of respect for Erdoğan and Trump. However, Zelenskyy himself will not attend, choosing instead to travel to the European Political Community summit in Tirana alongside Erdoğan.

“Our delegation will be in Istanbul, prepared to discuss a ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said. “But we will not acknowledge the occupied territories as part of Russia. What we need is sustained pressure on Putin—at a minimum, stronger sanctions from Europe and the U.S.”

Should the discussions move forward, they would mark the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since the March 2022 Istanbul negotiations, which collapsed following revelations of the Bucha massacre by Russian forces.

In the lead-up to the talks, Russia launched an aggressive drone assault involving 145 drones across Ukraine, injuring numerous civilians and continuing its advance in the eastern regions. Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov warned that the Kremlin is using negotiations as a distraction while preparing for further offensives.

“They’re gearing up to attack while pushing the negotiation narrative—it’s a familiar tactic,” Budanov said. He also revealed that Russian forces have set their sights on Dnipro, an industrial stronghold in eastern Ukraine. “They’re not there yet, but it’s clear they’re aiming for it. We’re up against an enemy determined to erase our nation.”