Zelensky sends delegation to Istanbul for direct peace talks as Putin abstains

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he has dispatched a high-ranking team, led by his defence minister, to Istanbul for the first direct peace talks with a Russian delegation in three years. This development comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to attend a face-to-face meeting, casting doubt on hopes for a breakthrough in the peace process. The exact timing of the talks remains uncertain.