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Refusing to Meet Zelensky, Putin Sends Junior Team for Talks with Ukraine
Wall Street Journal ^ | 5/14/2025 | Yaroslav Trofimov, James Marson, Alexander Ward

Posted on 05/14/2025 3:02:27 PM PDT by marcusmaximus

Ignoring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call to meet for direct high-level talks in Turkey, Russian leader Vladimir Putin dispatched to Istanbul a team of junior officials, making it uncertain that negotiations between the warring nations would occur at all.

The Russian team is set to be led by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin, the same men whom Putin dispatched to negotiate Ukraine’s surrender in the early days of the war. The last session of these talks occurred in Istanbul in March 2022, and the negotiations fell apart as Russia suffered a military defeat and withdrew its forces from Kyiv and other parts of northern Ukraine.

Zelensky, who is slated to arrive in Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday for separate talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said he would be ready to meet with Putin if the Russian leader also came to Turkey. President Trump, who has made ending the war in Ukraine his key foreign-policy priority, has also indicated he might have attended.

But Putin’s decision to send junior officials instead foreclosed the possibility of any breakthrough, Western diplomats say. By naming Medinsky, a former culture minister, as head of the delegation, they say, Putin has indicated that he’s unwilling to budge and seeks the same objectives as in 2022: the end of Ukraine as a sovereign state that is able to defend itself.

Senior U.S. officials are also headed to Istanbul, though it isn’t clear whom they would meet and when.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: istanbul2; russia; ukraine
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1 posted on 05/14/2025 3:02:28 PM PDT by marcusmaximus
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To: marcusmaximus

A meeting which was Putin’s idea.

Putin is a very evil and destructive person.

It’s possible he doesn’t want to be there if Russia is going to accept a ceasefire. Let’s see.


2 posted on 05/14/2025 3:07:27 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: marcusmaximus
“Zelensky, who is slated to arrive in Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday for separate talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan”

So Zelensky was going to be in Turkey anyways?

3 posted on 05/14/2025 3:08:52 PM PDT by McGruff
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To: Williams

No, it’s standard protocol that initial negotiations are not conducted by heads of state. For very good reasons.

Putin offered direct talks, not a meeting between heads of state.

And there’s no way the Russians will accept that idiotic ceasefire. Why should they?


4 posted on 05/14/2025 3:17:08 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: marcusmaximus
From the article --- "Ignoring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call..."

Going forward, one will be finding more and more doing something like that.

Svoboda and Sich will likely not ignore him, as time passes.

5 posted on 05/14/2025 3:20:53 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: CatHerd

Let’s remember you said that nostradamus.


6 posted on 05/14/2025 3:21:14 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: Allegra; AndyJackson; ANKE69; bimboeruption; Candor7; Carriage Hill; C210N; Cold_Red_Steel; ...
So Easy!!

ZEEPER FOLLIES PINGLIST!
(((PING!)))

7 posted on 05/14/2025 3:24:39 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (🦅 MAGADONIAN ⚔️ LIFE )
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To: CatHerd
One notes it is an eventful and event-filled day.

Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs NATO, 14 May 2025


8 posted on 05/14/2025 3:27:46 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Williams

Fine. Yes, let’s remember!


9 posted on 05/14/2025 3:30:13 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: marcusmaximus

Sounds like President Trump chose wisely


10 posted on 05/14/2025 3:33:13 PM PDT by The Louiswu (USA FIRST...USA FOREVER)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

The constant back and forth with childish names is so tiring and idiotic


11 posted on 05/14/2025 3:34:58 PM PDT by Dartoid
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

“Please note that the accreditation process is taking longer than anticipated.”

Ha! Gotta make sure only globo-friendly media outlets are allowed in!

Rutte is such a tool. But I must admit, he’s very good at being one.


12 posted on 05/14/2025 3:35:28 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: marcusmaximus

Putin is not serious about peace and this is the proof. He has sent two ass clowns who will make the same unreasonable demands that amount to Ukraine’s total surrender, instead of coming himself. Clearly Putin is a very frightened little man. He would rather continue the slaughter to save his own worthless neck. [spit]


13 posted on 05/14/2025 3:39:07 PM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой!)
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To: Dartoid
The constant back and forth with childish names is so tiring and idiotic

I'll put you down as a Zeeper. Thanks.

14 posted on 05/14/2025 3:39:52 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (🦅 MAGADONIAN ⚔️ LIFE )
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To: marcusmaximus; All

Now that the latest Fairy Tale has ended maybe we can get back to reality.


15 posted on 05/14/2025 3:41:26 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (The road is a dangerous place man, you can die out here...or worse. -Johnny Paycheck, 1980, Reno, NV)
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
Zelensky, who is slated to arrive in Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday for separate money-begging talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan…
16 posted on 05/14/2025 3:44:40 PM PDT by Allegra (I survived the Trump Recession 4/7/25 - 4/10/25)
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To: CatHerd
--- "Rutte is such a tool. But I must admit, he’s very good at being one."

He's very good.....

---

17 posted on 05/14/2025 3:45:42 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: SaxxonWoods

Sending the junior varsity instead of Lavrov was Putin’s answer to Zelensky’s antics. Well played. Trump is likely chuckling in private.


18 posted on 05/14/2025 3:48:21 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

ROFL!!!

He rides a bike like Obama! That is so hilarious!


19 posted on 05/14/2025 3:49:18 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: marcusmaximus

“The Russian team is set to be led by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky and deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin”

I’d say sending the #2 person from the most powerful military to the negotiations is FAR from a “Junior Team”.

...but then again, the Neocons are again mad at being OUTSMARTED by Putin.

As it is, if Ukraine wants peace, the right people are there to begin the negotiations.


20 posted on 05/14/2025 3:54:19 PM PDT by BobL
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