Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would attend the talks, challenging Putin to meet in person for the first time since 2019 to participate in face-to-face discussions.

Who’s out?

“We’re hoping President Putin shows up as well, and then President Trump will be there. This could be an absolutely incredible meeting,” he said. “We can get peace, I really believe, pretty fast if all three leaders sit down and talk.”

Both have previously taken part in discussions between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia. But both names were absent from the delegation list.

Who’s in?

A Ukrainian diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency the country’s leadership would decide on its next steps once there was clarity on Putin’s participation.

Medinsky is considered influential in advancing Russia’s historical claims over swathes of Ukraine and has written textbooks advancing a nationalist view of Russian history that has been questioned by independent historians.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky is part of the delegation that will attend talks in Türkiye. Source: AAP / Artyom Geodakyan/TASS/Sipa USA

The other three negotiators were named as deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin and director of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov.

A US delegation, meanwhile, includes secretary of state Marco Rubio along with senior envoys Kellogg and Steve Witkoff.

What could be discussed?

The fundamental differences between the two countries are far from being resolved.

Ukraine and its allies say the invasion was an unprovoked, imperial-style land grab.

What next?