RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin did not attend proposed direct peace talks with his Ukrainian opposite number Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey today, casting doubt on the prospects for peace. 

Mr Zelensky challenged Mr Putin to meet him face-to-face in Ankara this week to discuss ending Russia’s three-year invasion of Ukraine, but the Russian leader did not confirm whether he would attend.

A Russian delegation was in Istanbul today, but it was unclear whether the sides would meet for their first such talks since March 2022, following Russia’s invasion the previous month.