Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend the upcoming negotiations in Istanbul scheduled for tomorrow, which marks the first direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian diplomats in three years.

This decision comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly urged Putin to meet with him in Istanbul to discuss ongoing issues related to the war between their nations.

However, Putin's name does not appear on the list of delegates released by the Russian side, which was made public on the evening prior to the talks.

While Putin has not explicitly rejected Zelensky's invitation, his absence from the negotiating list suggests he will not participate in the discussions.

The situation raises uncertainty regarding the format and continuation of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey.

The Russian delegation to Turkey will include a presidential advisor, a senior diplomat, and other officials, but significant figures such as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are notably absent from the group.

In addition, former U.S. President Donald Trump has also stated that he will not attend the Istanbul meeting, according to a U.S. official speaking to media.

Turkish officials had previously indicated that Trump was unlikely to interrupt his diplomatic schedule in the Middle East to attend the talks.

Meanwhile, Zelensky is en route to Ankara for a separate meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, coinciding with a NATO summit where other world leaders are also present.

Zelensky indicated in a video statement that he is prepared to travel to Istanbul if Putin decides to show up.

The United States, European Union, and Ukraine have jointly called for Russia to agree to an unconditional thirty-day ceasefire.

On the other hand, Putin has expressed a need to discuss the details before moving towards any formal agreement.

There is a prevailing sentiment in Ukraine that the Russian president's actions are aimed merely at buying time rather than seeking genuine peace.