Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin must demonstrate leadership by meeting him in person for talks. He said Putin’s behaviour shows a lack of respect not only for Ukraine,

Ukraine proposed to Russia to hold a high-level meeting in Istanbul. However, President Vladimir Putin refused, thereby missing an opportunity to move toward peace, according to a press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Hopes for a breakthrough in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine dimmed as Putin sent a lower-level delegation to Turkey, while Zelensky criticized this as disrespectful and indicative of Russia's lack of seriousness.

The Ukrainian president has called Russia's low-level delegation sent to peace talks in Turkey merely "decorative." He had challenged Russia's leader to meet him in person to talk about ending the war.

Amid whirlwind diplomacy this week over the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine, it seemed like Volodymyr Zelenskyy had gotten the better of his adversary. Now Vladimir Putin has found what he presumably sees as the best way out of a tight spot by sending a lower-level delegation to peace talks.

A Russian politician has condemned Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent promise to wait for Vladimir Putin for peace talks in Istanbul. After his Russian counterpart offered to “resume negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war in Turkey last week,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday (May 13) he wanted to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire face-to-face with Vladimir Putin at this week's talks in Istanbul, because only the Russian leader could enact such a pause.