‘Hey, Comrade Putin, Just Go’: Brazil’s Lula Presses Russian President On Istanbul Talks

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was just recently one of the some 29 heads of state who attended the Victory Day Red Square parade and events in Moscow. He also met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin while in the country.

And now amid plans for ‘direct’ Russia-Ukraine talks to be held in Istanbul Wednesday, Brazilian media is reporting that Lula is urging Putin to attend in person. 

“It costs me nothing to say, ‘Hey, comrade Putin, go to Istanbul and negotiate, come on’,” Lula was quoted as saying by Brazil’s state news agency Agencia Brasil.

But on Wednesday, Kommersant newspaper is reporting that not even Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the Istanbul talks.

“Speaking to reporters during a visit to China, Lula said he would stop in Moscow on his way back to Brazil in an effort to press Putin to take part in negotiations,” another regional source reports.

As for the United States, President Trump is dispatching his two top diplomats, but there are reports they could arrive after main talks are scheduled to happen, while currently they are accompanying Trump in the Gulf:

US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday, May 16, reports The Guardian.

As the outlet reports, Witkoff told journalists that he and Rubio will head to Istanbul on Friday for talks regarding Russia and Ukraine. He also noted that it remains unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present at the planned negotiations.

However, the potential talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul are scheduled for Thursday, May 15.

The Kremlin has since confirmed that it still plans to participate, also as Zelensky is trying to goad Putin into attending in person. Zelensky has said he’s ready to be there if Putin is.

And even Trump had days ago said he was “thinking about actually flying over”; however, this is looking increasingly unrealistic. 

Despite some sensational recent headlines and statements, one thing we can be sure will not happen is President Putin’s personal presence. There’s no reason for him to be there – from a strategic point of view – given Kiev has yet to make any major concessions, and Russian forces are winning on the ground in the east.

And if Moscow is not willing to send Lavrov, it’s a clear sign the Kremlin is not approaching the Istanbul meeting as if it will result to much of great consequence or substance.