ISTANBUL - As the world turns its attention to the upcoming peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, significant uncertainty looms over the participation of two pivotal figures: Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Both leaders have refrained from publicly confirming their attendance at the highly anticipated negotiations, scheduled to take place in Istanbul.

In a bold move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has openly challenged Putin to attend the talks in person, marking a potential historic meeting—the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders since December 2019. This new round of discussions is set to occur on Thursday, yet the specifics of the Russian delegation’s attendance remain shrouded in ambiguity, as the Kremlin has not disclosed who will represent Moscow.

Just one day before what would be the first direct peace talks in years between Moscow and Kyiv, both Putin and Trump have yet to provide guarantees they will make the journey to Istanbul. Over the weekend, President Putin suggested that the negotiating teams from both countries could convene in Istanbul, yet he withheld information regarding the members of the Russian delegation.

Responding to the situation, Trump has urged Ukraine to engage in the talks, leading Zelenskyy to affirm his commitment to attend, contingent upon Putin’s presence. This has ignited a diplomatic standoff, as the United States continues to exert pressure on both leaders to bring an end to the three-year conflict that has led to widespread devastation in Ukraine.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Zelenskyy emphasized his unwillingness to meet with any Russian representatives subordinate to President Putin, asserting that "everything in Russia depends" on Putin himself. By stating, "So I said that on Thursday I will go to Turkey and I'm ready to meet Putin," Zelenskyy reinforces his determination to seek a resolution directly through dialogue with the Russian President.

On Wednesday, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, was not able to provide additional details regarding the Russian President’s planned participation. When pressed during a daily briefing about the composition of the Russian delegation, Peskov indicated that he was still awaiting "an instruction" from Putin, further fueling speculation and concern regarding the talks.

Despite the uncertainty, Peskov confirmed, "The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15." As the situation unfolds, Trump, currently touring nearby Arab nations, has indicated that he is still contemplating whether he will attend the peace talks. He mentioned in a statement aboard Air Force One while en route to Qatar, "[Putin] would like me to be there, and that's a possibility … I don't know that he would be there if I'm not there. We're going to find out."

If Putin ultimately decides to attend, this would mark a significant moment in international diplomacy, representing the first meeting between the leaders of the two nations embroiled in conflict since late 2019. Additionally, the U.S. President has advocated for both parties to agree to a 30-day ceasefire as a preliminary step towards a more comprehensive peace agreement, a proposal that has garnered support from Ukraine and various European leaders. However, Putin has signaled his desire to engage in discussions about such a ceasefire only after the initiation of talks, leaving the path forward unclear.