Kremlin says too early to predict outcome of Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye

It is too soon to discuss the specifics or likely outcomes of planned talks between Russia and Ukraine in Türkiye, the Russian president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, cautioning that key details remain unclear.

In a statement on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said he would be in Türkiye on Thursday and expected to meet Putin.

"It's too early to discuss the content or outcome of the negotiations. Our delegation will be in Istanbul tomorrow (May 15), awaiting the arrival of the Ukrainian delegation. We don't yet know who will represent Ukraine, how the talks will begin, or how the talks might progress. We need to remain patient and wait for the negotiations to start," Peskov said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Thursday's talks would mark the first direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine since negotiations broke down in 2022.

Peskov said any new discussions must be grounded in the previous negotiations held three years ago while acknowledging new realities.

"We cannot ignore the previous negotiations, which did take place, but [we also need to consider] the new realities that exist today," he said.

In addition, Peskov said the rebuilding of Russia-U.S. relations and the resolution of the Ukraine crisis are separate issues that are being handled independently.

Kremlin says too early to predict outcome of Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye

Kremlin says too early to predict outcome of Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye

Kremlin says too early to predict outcome of Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye

Kremlin says too early to predict outcome of Russia-Ukraine talks in Türkiye

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation