Zelenskyy labels Russian delegation as «prop» team

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists upon his arrival in Ankara, Turkey, 15 May 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Huseyin Hayatsever

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Ankara for meetings with Turkish leader Recep Erdogan.

The broadcast of the president's arrival was published by «Suspilne».

He was accompanied by the head of the Presidential Office, Andrii Yermak, his deputies, Ihor Zhovkva and Ihor Brusilo, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umierov.

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During a short press conference, he called the Russian representation at the talks «a sham» and said that Ukraine would still determine its future position.

«The level of the Russians is not yet officially known to me, but from what we see, it looks more like a prop level», the president said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he would first meet with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and then decide on the next steps in negotiations with Russia.

«I think we will have a few hours for an important conversation, important, very important decisions. We need to understand the level of the Russian delegation, what their mandate is, whether they are capable of making any decisions on their own. Because we all know who makes decisions in Russia», Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

As a reminder, today, 15 May, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met in Turkey with his colleagues from Germany, Poland and France — Jean-Noël Barrot, Johannes Wadefull and Radoslaw Sikorski.

According to the Kremlin's press service, the delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinskyi, a Putin aide who has already represented Russia in negotiations with Ukraine in 2022. The delegation also includes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Ihor Kostiukov, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he was looking forward to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey.