NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte on Friday criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not travelling to Turkey to meet with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“He knows extremely well that the ball is in his court, that he is in trouble,” Rutte said, arriving at a meeting of European leaders in Tirana.
“He made a big mistake by sending this low-level delegation,” he added.
“He has to be serious about wanting peace. I think all the pressure is now on Putin.”
“I think it is very good that the Ukrainians have come to the table. They have sent a delegation which is really willing to negotiate a ceasefire,” Rutte added.
Negotiators for the United States and Turkey met the Ukrainian delegation for talks in Istanbul on Friday morning ahead of the planned direct talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the meeting, the ministry said.
Direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian envoys are scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm (0930 GMT).
These would be the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since spring 2022 – shortly after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion. (dpa/NAN)