Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not meet with any Russian representatives in Istanbul except President Vladimir Putin, senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview on The Breakfast Show.
“We understand how power is structured in Russia, and it’s clear that even people with formal ministerial status — or even someone like [Prime Minister Mikhail] Mishustin — are unlikely to be authorized to make key decisions,” Podolyak said. “Only Putin can decide whether the war continues or ends. That’s indisputable.”
Podolyak said that if there is no “high-level Russian presence” in Istanbul, it would signal that Moscow is not prepared to agree to a ceasefire, end the war, or engage in direct negotiations. If Putin does attend, however, Podolyak said legal amendments would be made to Ukrainian laws that currently prohibit negotiations with the Russian president.
He added that if Putin does not come to Istanbul, a technical meeting at a lower level might still take place, though “its purpose is not entirely clear,” as “no substantial issues would be resolved there.”