{"id":1348,"date":"2025-05-15T22:58:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T22:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=1348"},"modified":"2025-05-15T22:58:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T22:58:20","slug":"putin-snubs-peace-talks-with-zelensky-in-istanbul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=1348","title":{"rendered":"Putin Snubs Peace Talks With Zelensky in Istanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at the failed attempt to hold direct peace talks between the leaders of <strong>Russia<\/strong> and <strong>Ukraine<\/strong>, how <strong>Asia-Pacific<\/strong> countries and the <strong>European Union<\/strong> are tackling the <strong>U.S.<\/strong> trade war, and the final leg of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s <strong>Middle East<\/strong> tour.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Putin\u2019s No-Show<\/h3>\n<p>Hopes that direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday could lead to a breakthrough in the effort to end their war crumbled when the Russian leader decided at the eleventh hour not to attend.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at the failed attempt to hold direct peace talks between the leaders of <strong>Russia<\/strong> and <strong>Ukraine<\/strong>, how <strong>Asia-Pacific<\/strong> countries and the <strong>European Union<\/strong> are tackling the <strong>U.S.<\/strong> trade war, and the final leg of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s <strong>Middle East<\/strong> tour.<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-fallback\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/category\/world-brief\/\">Sign up<\/a>  to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.            <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-shortcode-newsletter=\"world_brief\" class=\"newsletter-unit-signup newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode email-capture--step-1 newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-world_brief\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-world_brief newsletter-shortcode-world_brief\">\n<div class=\"show-on-email-capture--signed-up hide-from-newsletter-subscriber newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode--container\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit newsletters-page newsletter-row\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-world_brief\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.<\/h2>\n<p>\n                        <button class=\"button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"grid--flex newsletter-world_brief newsletter-signup-container\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"World Brief sign up form\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"buttons\">\n<div class=\"hide-from-newsletter-subscriber privacy-policy-container\">\n<div class=\"privacy-policy-acknowledge\">\n<p><small>By submitting your email, you agree to the <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/termsofuse\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Use<\/a> and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n    <label for=\"email-world_brief\">Enter your email<\/label><br \/>\n    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" class=\"hide-from-reg hide-from-sub\" id=\"email-world_brief\" aria-required=\"true\" required=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <button class=\"button button--signup \" data-newsletter-id=\"world_brief\" data-sourceid=\"In-article unit\">Sign Up<\/button>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Putin\u2019s No-Show<\/h3>\n<p>Hopes that direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Thursday could lead to a breakthrough in the effort to end their war crumbled when the Russian leader decided at the eleventh hour not to attend.<\/p>\n<p>Putin first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdd29z6669ro\">proposed<\/a> holding \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2025\/05\/15\/putin-and-trump-wont-attend-peace-talks-with-ukraines-zelenskyy.html\">direct negotiations<\/a>\u201d with Zelensky \u201cwithout any preconditions\u201d over the weekend after European leaders issued the Russian leader an ultimatum: either accept an immediate and unconditional cease-fire with Kyiv or suffer another round of tough sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. President Donald Trump, who for months has been pushing hard for both sides to negotiate a swift end to the three-year-long war, put significant pressure on Zelensky to meet with Putin in Turkey this week. Zelensky agreed, and the Trump administration said it would send U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to Turkey to participate as well. Trump even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/trump-says-he-could-go-turkey-join-russia-ukraine-2025-05-12\/\">suggested<\/a> that he himself might make an appearance.<\/p>\n<p>But as Thursday\u2019s planned talks in Istanbul got closer and closer, Moscow refused to say whether Putin would attend. Finally, ahead of Zelensky\u2019s meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, and with Rubio in the Turkish resort city of <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/International\/wireStory\/rubio-top-nato-diplomats-meet-turkey-ahead-ukraine-121821778\">Antalya<\/a> for a NATO foreign ministers\u2019 meeting, the Kremlin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/15\/world\/europe\/russia-ukraine-putin-zelensky-ceasefire-trump.html?campaign_id=9&amp;emc=edit_nn_20250515&amp;instance_id=154574&amp;nl=the-morning&amp;regi_id=159637444&amp;segment_id=197983&amp;user_id=3a92aa035d8e7d51a6ba63375b87c152\">announced<\/a> that Moscow would be sending a midlevel delegation to Istanbul led by Vladimir Medinsky\u2014a senior Putin aide who helped lead the 2022 negotiations\u2014instead of the Russian president.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/putin-trump-skip-ukraines-peace-talks-that-russian-leader-proposed-2025-05-14\/\">slammed<\/a> Putin\u2019s decision. \u201cI feel disrespect from Russia. No meeting time, no agenda, no high-level delegation\u2014this is personal disrespect. To Erdogan, to Trump,\u201d Zelensky told reporters on Thursday, adding that Moscow\u2019s representatives appear \u201cmore theatrical than substantive.\u201d \u201cWe must understand the level of the Russian delegation and what mandate they have\u2014whether they are even capable of making any decisions on their own. Because we all know who actually makes decisions in Russia,\u201d Zelensky said.<\/p>\n<p>Zelensky maintained that he would send his own high-level delegation to Istanbul for talks, headed by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/live-news\/ukraine-russia-talks-istanbul-turkey-intl#cmapb4pyo00003b6mljehugf3\">out of respect<\/a>\u201d for Trump and Erdogan, but that Zelensky himself would not attend now that Putin was not going to be there. Rubio will join Kellogg and Witkoff in Istanbul on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The Kremlin is hoping to push through its 2022 demands, which would ensure that Ukraine never joins NATO and would limit the size of Kyiv\u2019s military. Putin also seeks control of five Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, and he wants all Western military aid to be suspended before a cease-fire begins. In contrast, Zelensky is seeking an immediate and unconditional truce, with negotiations for a potential peace deal beginning once a cease-fire is in place.<\/p>\n<p>But Trump told reporters on Thursday that \u201cnothing\u2019s going to happen until Putin and I get together.\u201d According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, there are no immediate plans for a meeting between Putin and Trump.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Today\u2019s Most Read<\/h3>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>What We\u2019re Following<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Tackling high tariffs. <\/strong>The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-05-15\/us-and-chinese-trade-negotiators-meet-for-talks-in-south-korea?embedded-checkout=true&amp;sref=gAQr8Hwd\">convened<\/a> in South Korea on Thursday to discuss multilateral approaches to addressing the U.S. trade war. Washington\u2019s tariffs have targeted more than half of the bloc, triggering fears of a global recession amid growing protectionism. APEC accounts for roughly 50 percent of global trade and 60 percent of global GDP.<\/p>\n<p>Over the next two days, APEC trade envoys are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/asia-pacific-trade-envoys-discuss-multilateral-cooperation-tariff-era-2025-05-13\/\">expected to debate<\/a> expanding the Asia-Pacific free trade area, increasing digital trade, brainstorming new strategies for sustainable growth, and bolstering artificial intelligence. Several APEC countries have individually sought trade deals with Washington to lower tariffs. Most notably, China secured a <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/05\/13\/china-united-states-trade-tariff-negotiations-pause-economy\/\">90-day pause<\/a> on most duties with the United States beginning Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, trade representatives from the European Union gathered in Brussels on Thursday to strategize how best to get Trump to lift his sweeping steel, aluminum, and auto tariffs. Unlike the United Kingdom, which secured a <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/05\/08\/us-uk-trade-deal-details-tariffs-pope-robert-prevost-leo-xiv\/\">new deal<\/a> with Washington that lowered U.S. duties to 10 percent, the EU is hoping to have all U.S. tariffs on its products eliminated\u2014or else <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/europe\/eu-sees-signs-that-trade-talks-with-u-s-are-speeding-up-c9284862\">retaliate further<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s far away from good for trade,\u201d Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa said, referring to the U.S.-U.K. deal. \u201cIf that\u2019s what\u2019s waiting for Europe, the U.S. can expect countermeasures from our side.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nuclear talks in progress. <\/strong>Trump kicked off the final leg of his multiday <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/05\/13\/trump-saudi-arabia-investment-deals-speech-syria-sanctions-iran\/\">Middle East tour<\/a> on Thursday with a stop in the United Arab Emirates. But other countries remained top of mind for the U.S. president. \u201cWe\u2019re in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/trump-says-us-is-getting-very-close-nuclear-deal-with-iran-2025-05-15\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=051525&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">very serious negotiations<\/a> with Iran for long-term peace,\u201d Trump said on Thursday, adding that Tehran had \u201csort of\u201d agreed to the terms of a nuclear deal.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. and Iranian officials concluded a fourth round of nuclear negotiations in Oman on Sunday. Trump wants to ensure that Tehran never develops a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/5\/15\/trump-says-us-close-to-nuclear-deal-with-iran-but-key-gaps-remain\">nuclear weapon<\/a>, and Iran is seeking relief from crushing U.S. economic sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>Also on Thursday, the U.S. president again <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/5301455-trump-gaza-strip-freedom-zone\/\">suggested<\/a> that the United States would consider taking control of Gaza and turning it into a \u201cfreedom zone.\u201d This echoes the administration\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/02\/06\/trump-gaza-israel-netanyahu-palestinians-egypt-jordan-saudi-arabia\/\">controversial proposal<\/a> to relocate Gaza\u2019s entire population of 2.1 million people to other countries to allow for reconstruction and real estate development in the war-torn territory. This idea has drawn fierce criticism from the Palestinian Authority, regional powers, and rights activists.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Livestreamed murder. <\/strong>A 23-year-old Mexican social media influencer was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/influencer-valeria-marquez-killed-tiktok-livestream-salon-mexico\/\">shot to death<\/a> during a TikTok livestream on Tuesday, local authorities said Wednesday. Valeria M\u00e1rquez was at the salon where she worked, posting content related to beauty and lifestyle, when an armed man who had previously come to the salon looking for her reentered the building. Prosecutors have not named the suspect, and there has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/05\/14\/americas\/valeria-marquez-tiktok-beauty-influencer-shot-dead-intl-latam\">no evidence<\/a> that a criminal group was responsible.<\/p>\n<p>The attack\u2019s motive is not yet known, but the case is being investigated following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/mexican-beauty-influencer-shot-death-during-tiktok-livestream-2025-05-14\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=051525&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">protocols for femicide<\/a>, which is the killing of women or girls due to their gender. According to United Nations data, Mexico <a href=\"https:\/\/oig.cepal.org\/en\/indicators\/femicide-or-feminicide\">reported<\/a> 852 instances of femicide in 2023, or a rate of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 women age 15 or older. This makes Mexico tied with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay as countries with the fifth-highest rate of femicide in Latin America.<\/p>\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/12\/1157811\">50,000 women<\/a> have been killed in Mexico since 2001. However, the impunity rate remains at more than 95 percent, even as Mexico City has prioritized <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2024\/07\/30\/mexico-feminist-foreign-policy-claudia-sheinbaum-alicia-barcena\/\">gender equity<\/a> under its first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Odds and Ends<\/h3>\n<p>Pope Leo XIV has joined Instagram. On Tuesday, the newly chosen pontiff <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJmOVZAiFXQ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading&amp;img_index=17\">posted<\/a> his first photo to the social media site, writing, \u201cPeace be with you all!\u201d in seven languages underneath an image of him greeting worshippers outside of the Vatican\u2019s Sistine Chapel. Prior to becoming pope, Leo was an avid user of X (formerly Twitter). He has since deleted his personal account, on which he repeatedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/05\/08\/pope-leo-tweets-social-media-00337322\">shared posts<\/a> that were critical of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/05\/15\/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-putin-zelensky-istanbul-turkey-trump\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at the failed attempt to hold direct peace talks between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, how Asia-Pacific countries and the European Union are tackling the U.S. trade war, and the final leg of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s Middle East tour. Putin\u2019s No-Show Hopes that direct talks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politcical-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}