Istanbul — it’s where Asia meets Europe, but as we now know, not where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The world's media descended on the Turkish city on May 15,

A FTER A WEEK of brinkmanship, Volodymyr Zelensky departed for peace negotiations in Turkey still unsure who he would be talking to. Vladimir Putin stayed silent for nearly four days, before turning down the Ukrainian’s dare of a face-to-face meeting.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a no-show for anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey this week. Trump, who had pressed for Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Istanbul,

As he heads to Turkey for negotiations, Zelensky is betting that Trump will soon realize that Russia does not want to make peace.

President Donald Trump again teased his possible attendance in Istanbul for the Russia-Ukraine peace talks on Friday

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he will urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Russian delegation has been waiting for the Ukrainian delegation for almost a day in Istanbul, while the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, is putting on a show in Ankara. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.