The Kremlin refuses to comment on the proposal by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, for a "direct" meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in Istanbul, which could be joined by the President of United States, Donald Trump, to discuss the end of the war in Ukraine of over three years.
The Kremlin, which previously rejected a 30-day ceasefire from Kiev's Western allies, demanded by the US, and promised to engage in talks on Thursday in Istanbul, has stated that the members of the Russian delegation will only be known when President Putin "deems it necessary."
Putin's absence in Istanbul would be the "definitive signal" that Moscow does not want to end the war, Kiev responded.
President Zelensky previously stated his willingness to have a "direct dialogue" with Putin in the Turkish city and today, hours before the Kremlin's response to his proposal, he insisted on that format of in-person conversation and rejected a meeting with a lower-ranking Russian leader or a Russian delegation.
The US President is confident that the meeting will take place and even expresses optimism about the proximity of the conflict's end. "Do not underestimate Thursday in Turkey," said Trump to reporters at the White House. However, the press and analysts consider it unlikely that Putin will meet with the Ukrainian leader at this time.
While diplomacy is at work, Ukrainian air defense units destroyed the 10 drones that Russia launched during the night, although it appears to be the smallest number of drones Russia has launched in at least several weeks.
The UN has held Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, marking the first time in history that such a resolution has been issued through the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The EU says Russia is not really interested in peace
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said on Tuesday that she does not believe Russia is truly interested in establishing peace in Ukraine, according to a late report from Reuters.
China and Brazil support direct dialogue and "as soon as possible" between Russia and Ukraine
The leaders of China and Brazil have agreed to support direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine and are confident that it will "begin" as soon as possible, both countries said in a joint statement, according to a late report from Reuters.
China's Xi Jinping and Brazil's Lula da Silva were in Moscow's Red Square last Friday for the commemoration of the end of World War II, where Russian President Vladimir Putin received around thirty foreign leaders in a demonstration that, despite the aggression in Ukraine, Russia is not as isolated as the West believes.
The Kremlin rejects the ICAO ruling blaming Russia for the downing of MH17
The Kremlin rejected on Tuesday the ruling of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) blaming Russia for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine in 2014, which claimed the lives of 298 people, reports Efe.
"Our position is well known. Russia did not participate in the investigation of that incident, so we do not accept biased conclusions," said the spokesman for the Russian Presidency, Dmitry Peskov, in his daily telephone press conference.
The ICAO determined the day before that Russia is responsible for the downing in 2014 of flight MH17 and that it has violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, or the Chicago Convention, which prohibits States from using weapons against civil aircraft in flight.
In this context, the Netherlands and Australia, whose passengers were on board the crashed plane, plan to request that Russia "initiate negotiations with both countries" that lead to concrete results.
The absence of Putin in Istanbul would be the "definitive signal" that Moscow does not want to end the war
Kiev stated on Tuesday that the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiations on Thursday in Istanbul, where his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky must attend, would be the "definitive signal" that Moscow does not want to end the war.
"I believe that if Vladimir Putin refuses to go to Turkey, it will be the definitive signal that Russia does not want to end this war, that it is not willing to negotiate," reads a statement published on the Ukrainian presidency's website, citing Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's right-hand man, reports Afp.
After European allies of Kiev urged a 30-day ceasefire starting on May 12, Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday that he was willing to hold "direct" talks between Russians and Ukrainians on May 15 in Istanbul. Zelensky responded by offering to meet with Putin "in person" in the same city.