Vladimir Putin 'makes decision' on if he'll attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

Vladimir Putin has been left off the list of Russian delegates for tomorrow's meeting with in Istanbul - suggesting that he has decided not to go.

Vladimir Medinsky, deputy foreign minister Galuzin Mikhail Yuryevich, and deputy minister of defence Alexander Fomin are instead listed on the document, which has been signed off by. It follows over whether the Russian president would come to the table with Ukraine's for historic face-to-face talks on ending the war. The two men have not met since launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and have seen each other in person only once, in 2019.

Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has also been left off the list, which was released by the Kremlin this evening.

Earlier today, said he didn't think Putin would go to Turkey for ceasefire talks with Ukraine unless he also goes.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he was flying from Saudi Arabia to , he said: "I don't know if he would be there if I'm not there."

Zelensky said he plans to be in Ankara tomorrow to conduct negotiations, and will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two of them would wait for Putin to arrive, he said.

Zelensky said if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there.

But Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelensky would not meet any Russian officials in Istanbul except Putin, stating that continued lower-level talks were simply "dragging out" the peace process.

On Sunday, Putin proposed direct talks with "without any preconditions" - but dragged his heels in responding to plans for the meeting, which was brokered by Erdogan.

New sanctions on Russia likely as peace efforts falter

Both the US and Europe have threatened Russia with further sanctions if there is no progress in halting the fighting in Ukraine soon.

France's foreign minister said he is working with US Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, on a potential new package of what he called "devastating" sanctions.

The measures would aim to "asphyxiate once and for all the Russian economy" and squeeze Russia "by the throat," with possible 500% import tariffs on Russian oil and countries that buy it, French Foreign
Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

He told French broadcaster BFMTV he would see Mr Graham in Turkey tomorrow.

The EU meanwhile announced plans on Wednesday for a new crackdown on Russia's 'shadow fleet' of commercial ships, which have used to circumvent sanctions imposed on the country by Western allies.

It follows measures introduced by the UK government last week, which banned up to 100 ships carrying Russian oil from entering British ports. Prime Minister said the new restrictions help "destroy his [Putin's] shadow fleet operation" and "starve his war machine of oil revenues."