Russian delegation to wait for Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15

According to RIA Novosti, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that the Russian delegation will wait for the Ukrainian representative in Istanbul, Türkiye.

"Our delegation will be there and waiting for the Ukrainian side," the Russian president's press secretary told Rossiya 1 journalist Pavel Zarubin, the footage was posted on his Telegram channel.

However, Mr. Peskov did not reveal the composition of the negotiating team from the Russian side, nor did he specify the start time of the meeting.

"I can't. When there is an order from President Vladimir Putin, then we will do it," Mr. Peskov explained.

In addition, the press secretary refused to comment on the statements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about his desire to meet the Russian leader in person, noting that “only President Putin's statements are evaluated.”

Reuters quoted sources as saying that US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will travel to Istanbul to attend possible talks between Russia and Ukraine. Accordingly, Mr. Trump's special envoy will only observe the dialogue between Moscow and Kiev.

Shortly before, Mr. Witkoff listed the main topics of the possible meeting: the territorial issue, the status of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine's use of the Dnieper River and access to the Black Sea.

A Turkish diplomatic source told RIA Novosti by phone that everything is ready in Istanbul for the talks between Russia and Ukraine. According to the source, the talks will be held behind closed doors, without a press conference.

The source also refused to say whether the Turkish side would take any enhanced security measures ahead of the upcoming talks, saying only: "Security will be guaranteed."

.