Reuters reports that US officials are expected to arrive in Istanbul the day after Russia-Ukraine talks are anticipated to begin.
According to Reuters, Steve Witkoff, an envoy of former US President Donald Trump, stated that he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Istanbul on Friday. This follows Trump’s announcement earlier in the week that US officials would participate in the upcoming discussions regarding the Ukraine conflict.
The first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in over three years are scheduled for May 15 in Istanbul. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed resuming dialogue to achieve a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict by addressing its underlying causes.
Witkoff made these comments on Wednesday to reporters in Doha, where he and Rubio are accompanying Trump on a state visit to Qatar as part of a broader Middle East tour.
Trump announced on Tuesday that Rubio and other US officials would be joining the Istanbul talks. A White House spokesman later clarified to reporters that Rubio, Witkoff, and US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg would attend the negotiations.
Trump, who had previously considered attending in person, told reporters on Air Force One en route to Qatar that his schedule would not permit it.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow would send a delegation and expects Ukraine to do the same. Kiev had previously stated that Vladimir Zelensky would only speak directly with the Russian president.
On Wednesday evening, the Kremlin announced that its delegation for the talks would be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who also led the Russian side during negotiations in Istanbul in 2022.
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