Istanbul: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision not to personally attend Turkish-hosted peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, calling it "a sign of cowardice," Radio Prague International reported on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, speaking ahead of an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Trkiye, Lipavsky criticized the Kremlin's decision to send advisor Vladimir Medinsky for talks with Ukraine. He also warned that Europe is prepared to impose additional sanctions on Moscow. NATO diplomats agreed that the move demonstrates Russia's lack of genuine intent, with Estonia's foreign minister describing the low-level delegation as "a slap in the face."

On Wednesday, Putin signed an order determining the composition of his country's delegation for direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday. According to the order posted on the Kremlin website, the delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky and will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Russian General Staff Director Main Intelligence Directorate head Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The statement also mentioned negotiation experts.

During the March 2022 Istanbul peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, a draft peace agreement was reached, but the Ukrainian side withdrew from the process. According to David Arakhamia, the head of the Ukrainian delegation at those talks, this was done on the advice of then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Ankara on Thursday to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul. The plane carrying Zelenskyy landed at Ankara Esenboga Airport at 12:14 p.m. (0914GMT).