From: Transform Ukraine By Douglas Landro / May 15, 2025
As Russia Unveils Junior Delegation for Istanbul Talks Excluding Putin, Military Movements Accelerate While Germany Pledges to Build ‘Strongest Conventional Army in Europe’
Summary of the Day – May 14, 2025
The diplomatic fault lines sharpened dramatically today as the Kremlin finally revealed its delegation for tomorrow’s Istanbul peace talks—a list notably absent of Vladimir Putin or any top-tier officials, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s direct challenge to meet face-to-face. Meanwhile, military intelligence reports suggest Russia is marshaling forces for a major summer offensive even as peace talks loom. Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to build “the strongest conventional army in Europe,” while the EU approved its 17th sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow oil fleet. Polish truckers ended their border blockade at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint following a court ruling. Russian forces struck the northeastern city of Sumy, killing three people, while Ukrainian actor Maksym Nelipa was confirmed killed in action. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces advanced near Pokrovsk while Russian troops gained ground around Kupyansk, Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Velyka Novosilka.
Moscow’s Delegation Revealed: Putin to Skip Istanbul Peace Talks
The Kremlin unveiled its delegation for the Istanbul peace talks scheduled for May 15, with President Vladimir Putin not attending despite direct appeals from Ukraine and international mediators. The Russian team will be headed by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky—who led the 2022 negotiations—accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Military Intelligence Director Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin.
The delegation does not include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov or Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, who were initially rumored to attend.
Voice of Ukraine 