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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Turkish capital Thursday for high-stakes discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing skepticism about upcoming Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy's plane touched down at Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 12:14 p.m. local time (9:14 a.m. GMT), where he was greeted by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and other officials who had traveled to Türkiye for a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Antalya.
The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to meet with Erdogan at the Presidential Complex later today as Türkiye continues its efforts to mediate between the warring nations.
Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Zelenskyy cast doubt on Moscow's sincerity in the diplomatic process, criticizing Russia for sending what he called a "dummy" delegation to Türkiye.
"It's not clear the Russian delegation is capable of making decisions," Zelenskyy told journalists, suggesting the representatives lack actual negotiating authority.
The Ukrainian president indicated his next steps would depend on his discussions with Erdogan, stating he will "think about what to do" regarding the Russia talks after meeting with his Turkish counterpart.
Türkiye has maintained diplomatic relations with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict, positioning itself as a potential mediator. This latest diplomatic effort comes as the war continues with no clear resolution in sight.
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