Kathmandu: A Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday for the first direct peace talks with Ukraine since the war began more than three years ago, but President Vladimir Putin was notably absent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had publicly challenged Putin to attend the talks in person. However, the Kremlin released a list of delegates on Wednesday night that did not include the Russian president or other top-level officials such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov or foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, raising doubts about Moscow’s commitment to meaningful dialogue.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been urging for a swift resolution to the war, said he might travel to Turkey if the talks show signs of progress. "If the talks go as planned, I will be in Turkey on Friday," Trump told reporters in Qatar.

Over tens of thousands of lives have been lost since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Moscow now occupying around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

A Ukrainian official told AFP that President Zelensky would first meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara before finalizing Ukraine’s stance for the negotiations. “The president will start his visit with Erdoğan in Ankara and only then will the president decide on the next steps,” the official said.

The talks are believed to be taking place at Dolmabahce Palace, where hundreds of journalists have already gathered.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow’s delegation is “ready for serious work,” despite the absence of senior leadership.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a NATO meeting, expressed optimism, saying the United States is “eager” for progress and open to “any mechanism” that could ensure a permanent resolution to the conflict. Rubio is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Friday for further discussions.

Putin’s unexpected agreement to peace talks followed strong international pressure, including demands from Kyiv and European leaders for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.