Negotiations with Russia: Zelensky approved the composition of the delegation
15 May 23:19
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree creating a delegation to participate in negotiations with Russia in Turkey scheduled for May 15-16. The relevant decree was published on the President’s website, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov headed the delegation.
The delegation included:
- first Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya,
- deputy Head of the Security Service Oleksandr Poklad,
- deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksiy Shevchenko,
- deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Vadym Skibitskyi,
- first Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskyi;
- representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Air Force, the Navy and the Ministry of Defense,
- advisor to the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz.
Zelenskyy’s decree also stipulates that the head of the delegation, in consultation with him, can make changes to the composition of the delegation and approves secret negotiating directives.
As a reminder, Ukraine and Russia may hold their first direct talks in three years tomorrow. The parties will discuss the possibility of a 30-day truce.
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What to expect in Istanbul
On the night of May 11, Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced his readiness for direct talks with the Ukrainian side, which are to take place in Istanbul on May 15. However, in his statement, he did not mention a single word about a possible 30-day ceasefire, as the Ukrainian side and its partners want.
US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine must urgently agree to the talks in Turkey proposed by Putin for May 15. At the same time, the American president did not pay attention to the absence of a 30-day truce clause in the Kremlin’s proposal.
Nevertheless, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed and wrote that he would personally wait for Putin in Turkey to meet on May 15. At the same time, he expressed hope that the ceasefire would begin on May 12.
The Kremlin has officially confirmed that it is preparing for the talks, but has not said who will attend them.
Russia has not accepted the ceasefire.
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