New Peace Talks: Ukrainian Delegation Set for Istanbul
On May 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky officially approved the team of Ukrainian representatives who will participate in peace talks with Russia in Istanbul.
This was revealed in decree №306/2025 published on the President's Office website.
The delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and it includes:
- Sergiy Kyslytsya – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
- Oleksandr Poklad – Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine;
- Oleg Luhovskyi – First Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service;
- Olexiy Shevchenko – Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- Vadym Skibitsky – Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense;
- Yevhen Shinkarov – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force;
- Oleksandr Dyiakov – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces;
- Olexiy Malovatsky – Head of the International and Operational Law Department;
- Oleksandr Sherikhov – Senior Officer of the Main Operational Department;
- Heorhiy Kuzmychov – Protocol Officer;
- Oleksandr Bevz – Advisor to the Head of the President's Office.
The decree also allows the head of the delegation, in agreement with the president, to make changes to its composition and approves secret negotiating directives.
It’s important to note that President Zelensky traveled to Ankara, anticipating a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin will not attend the talks in Istanbul, and instead, Russia has sent a lower-level delegation led by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky.
In light of this, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio does not see any chances for a breakthrough in negotiations between the two delegations in Istanbul.
