VLADIMIR Putin has sent his Salisbury poisoning spy chief to Ukraine peace negotiations in Turkey which are due to kick off later today.
The Russian leader has consistently refused to engage in face-to-face negotiations, avoiding contact with Volodymyr Zelensky while perpetuating his aggressive campaign.
Putin’s latest stunt saw him ignore calls from Zelensky and Donald Trump to personally attend this weeks round of negotiations in Turkey.
Zelensky is said to be in Istanbul for the negotiations but Trump will not attend despite him suggesting he could come.
The list of the Russian delegation taking part was released by the Kremlin last night – with Putin’s name a glaring omission.
Instead, GRU military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov is set to help with the talks for the Kremlin.
Kostyukov has a controversial history, having been sanctioned by Britain and the EU for his involvement in the attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Wiltshire, during the infamous Salisbury incident.
The nerve agent strike was carried out when Kostyukov was deputy head of the GRU.
He was promoted by Putin to a top spy chief shortly afterwards.
Putin’s negotiators will also see Vladimir Medinsky, a West-hating aide who denies Ukraine even exists, take part.
Follow our live coverage below…
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Putin’s chair is always empty in peace talks
A top foreign minister set to take part in today’s peace talks has already slammed Vladimir Putin’s absence.
Finnish minister of foreign affairs, Elina Valtonen, told the media today in Turkey that she doesn’t believe the despot wants peace.
She added that he has always had a chair at the negotiating table but it remains empty.
Valtonen stated: “In discussions about peace, ceasefire, and negotiations to conclude the war, there is always one vacant seat—the seat of Vladimir Putin.”
“I guess the world has realised there is only one party not willing to engage in serious peace negotiations and that certainly is Russia.”
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Russia-Ukraine peace talks already causing friction
Peace talks haven’t officially started yet today despite both parties already disagreeing.
Russian media initially said the negotiations will get underway at 10am local time (7am UK time) this morning.
But a Ukrainian official has since dismissed this remark and called it “not true”.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said on Telegram a 10am start “was not planned and was not true”.Â
It is still unclear when both sides will officially sit down.
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‘Why would he go if I’m not there?’ – Trump defends Putin
Donald Trump has told reporters in the Middle East that he understands why Vladimir Putin is not going to the Turkish peace talks.
Trump said: “Why would he go if I’m not going?
“I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there.”
The US president said on Wednesday he would see if he could attend in person and hoped Putin would join him.
Both are not expected to show now.
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Putin no show at crunch peace talks
Vladimir Putin is again refusing to show up at the latest round of peace talks with Ukraine.
The despot was urged to attend by Donald Trump but has instead decided to stay in Moscow.
