Rutte: Russia sent low-level delegation to Istanbul

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is dissatisfied with the composition of the Russian delegation representing Moscow at the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, Report informs via Interfax.

Rutte was speaking at a press conference following an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya.

Russia sent a low-level delegation, he said.

Direct Russian-Ukrainian talks are planned in Istanbul on May 15. The Russian delegation at the Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye is headed by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who already led a group of Russian negotiators in Istanbul in the spring of 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed last Sunday to resume direct talks in Istanbul on May 15 without preconditions, which were interrupted in 2022.