Volodymyr Zelenskyy is annoyed by the "sham delegation" – and is called a "clown"

DER SPIEGEL Volodymyr Zelenskyy is annoyed by the "sham delegation" – and is called a "clown" 50 minutes • 2 minutes reading time Russia and Ukraine want to negotiate peace in Turkey. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is present, but Kremlin leader Putin is staying away. Shortly before the meeting, the two sides engage in a verbal exchange. It could have been the first direct conversation since the beginning of the Russian invasion, a meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. Instead, the Kremlin calls the Ukrainian president a "clown" and a "failure" – and the latter calls the delegation headed by him, without Kremlin leader Putin, a "deception." Russian and Ukrainian representatives are scheduled to meet in Istanbul for talks this afternoon. Kremlin chief Putin himself proposed the negotiations in the Turkish metropolis – but then sent a low-level delegation. He himself remained in Moscow. "The level of the Russian delegation is a real deception," Zelensky said, according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu, before a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. It is unclear "at what level the Russian delegation" is located and whether it is "even capable of making decisions on its own." A delegation led by Putin's advisor Vladimir Medinsky is participating for Russia. Kyiv, however, is represented by top personnel, according to Zelensky: "The Foreign Ministry, the Presidential Office, the army, and our intelligence services" are represented "to make any decisions that can lead to a just peace." "Someone with no education" Meanwhile, Moscow has escalated its verbal attacks against Ukraine. Referring to Zelensky's criticism, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman asked who would make such statements: "A clown? A loser?" In any case, "someone with no education," added Maria Zakharova, referring to Zelensky. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, criticized Zelensky for demanding that Kremlin chief Putin personally attend the talks in Istanbul. This was "pathetic," Lavrov said during an appearance before diplomats in Moscow. In addition to Putin, US President Donald Trump is also staying away from the meeting in Turkey. He had recently hinted that he would attend the delegations. Now Trump, who is currently on a Middle East tour, spoke of possibly joining them tomorrow, Friday. Once again, he remained vague: "I've thought about going, but it's very difficult," Trump said in Qatar. "If something were to happen, I would go there on Friday if it were appropriate." He hoped that Russia and Ukraine could achieve something.