High-Stakes Istanbul Peace Talks Loom as Putin and Zelenskyy Face Pressure to Negotiate End to Ukraine War

International attention is focused on Istanbul, where critical peace talks are set to address Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Despite mounting global pressure, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump have indicated they will not attend the summit, casting uncertainty over the negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to negotiate in any format, but the outcome may hinge on Russia's representation at the talks. World leaders, including Brazil's President Lula, are urging direct engagement to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, reports suggest Russia may be preparing a new offensive, raising the stakes for a diplomatic breakthrough.