The Ukrainian delegation has already left Ankara for Istanbul for talks with Russia. This was stated at a press conference by the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, began in Ankara on May 15, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported.

Ukraine had framed Zelensky's demand for a face-to-face meeting with Putin as a test of Russia's true willingness to negotiate peace. Arriving in Turkey, he slammed the Russian delegation as "theatrical" and contrasted it to Ukraine's high-level group.

Donald Trump also played his part in undermining the peace process by saying there would be no progress until he personally spoke to Putin.

The chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidency asserts, in an interview with Le Monde, that Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to negotiate with Russia, alongside the US and Europe, but demands a complete and unconditional ceasefire beforehand.

The absence of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump from the talks has dampened hopes of a significant breakthrough in resolving the conflict.

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