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Putin Refuses Peace Talks in Türkiye—Starmer Says He’s “Standing in the Way”

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Liubava Petriv
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Putin Refuses Peace Talks in Türkiye—Starmer Says He’s “Standing in the Way”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference on immigration at Downing Street on May 12, 2025 in London, England. (Source: Getty Images)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of “dragging his feet” and obstructing a potential ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to The Guardian on May 15.

The comments came after Putin reportedly declined to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy face-to-face for peace talks in Türkiye.

When asked what message he had for Putin, Starmer stated:

“What’s happened today is further evidence that it’s Putin who is dragging his feet. It is Putin who is causing the delay in a ceasefire. Ukraine has long been clear, several months ago now, that they would have a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, and we have long said that it’s Putin who is standing in the way of that peace.”

UK Defence Minister John Healey also weighed in, emphasizing the need for action from Ukraine’s allies amid the uncertainty surrounding the peace process in Türkiye. After meeting with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin, Healey stressed:

“We need to put pressure on [Vladimir] Putin that helps bring him to the negotiating table. Now is the time for him … to negotiate and to put an end to this fighting.”

Healey further added that the Russian leader “has the power to end the war, he could travel to Istanbul and negotiate, he could order a ceasefire.”

Earlier, leading European diplomats have accused Putin of undermining negotiations by assigning his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to lead the Russian delegation to Türkiye—prompting skepticism over the prospect of real progress.

Medinsky, who was born in the Ukrainian SSR during Soviet times, previously led Russia’s delegation in earlier failed talks in 2022.

Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on May 15, Medinsky said direct contacts with Ukraine aim to establish long-term peace by addressing what he called the “root causes of the war.”

“We have all the competencies,” he added.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump stated that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will not advance until he meets directly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

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