**Ukraine Hits Back at Russia’s Insults Ahead of Peace Talks**
The Ukraine Foreign Ministry has fired back at Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova after she called President Volodymyr Zelensky a “clown”. This comes ahead of expected peace talks in Turkey on May 15. The Ukrainian government is represented at the highest level, with key officials accompanying Zelensky.
In response to Zakharova’s comments, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said that the Russian Foreign Ministry has “become a laughing stock” and that their role in peace talks would be limited to just “barking from Moscow”. This was in reference to the fact that Russia’s delegation is not led by its top officials.
**Russia’s Delegation: Junior Aides vs. Ukraine’s Top Officials**
In contrast, Ukraine’s president Zelensky has brought a team of high-ranking officials with him to Turkey for the peace talks. These include Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Chief Vasyl Malyuk, and General Staff Chief Andrii Hnatov.
Russia’s delegation, on the other hand, is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. This has been met with skepticism from Ukrainian officials and international leaders alike.
**International Reaction**
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called Russia’s decision to send junior aides for peace talks a “slap in the face”. The US President Donald Trump has also weighed in, saying that he might still attend the potential Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations if there is progress toward a deal.
**Peace Talks: What to Expect?**
The expected peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 15 are seen as an opportunity for both sides to find common ground and achieve “sustainable peace”. However, with the Russian delegation’s junior-level status, it remains unclear what concessions they would be able to make.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is ready for negotiations without preconditions. Ukraine’s president Zelensky will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the talks to discuss his next steps.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
