KIEV – American and European officials have intervened to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to withdraw from peace negotiations with Russia, emphasizing the necessity of sending at least a delegation of high-ranking officials to Istanbul, in case he declines to attend personally.

Reports indicate that Zelensky expressed dissatisfaction with the current developments in the ongoing conflict and suggested he would not authorize officials to travel to Turkey for discussions with their Russian counterparts.

Officials from the U.S. and Europe highlighted the importance of Zelensky dispatching at least a team of senior aides, including his chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, despite facing resistance from the Ukrainian leader.

According to one diplomat, "Zelensky did not see any purpose in departing at all."

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff stated that if Ukraine were to send a delegation and Russia refrained from doing so, Moscow would appear unfavorable and would bear the consequences of such a decision.

Concurrently, diplomats noted that if both Ukraine and Russia were present, there could be potential progress towards achieving a ceasefire.

Zelensky has maintained his insistence on a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey and is expected to arrive in Ankara later this evening to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

A Ukrainian official remarked, "Why meet with him (Putin) personally?

Because a serious conversation about ending the killings and the war should be conducted with the one who ultimately makes decisions in Russia." The official further stated that the next steps for Ukrainian leadership would depend on whether "Putin is afraid of coming to Turkey or not."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his delegation for the negotiations with Ukraine, scheduled to commence tomorrow in Istanbul, will be led by his aide Vladimir Medinsky.

The composition of the Ukrainian delegation remains undisclosed.