Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are set to meet for peace talks in Turkey on Friday. But, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, nor US President Donald Trump, will be there following days of confusion.

After dangling the possibility of his attendance, Trump said he would stay away but still wants to meet with Putin, further weakening the Istanbul talks.

The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years went ahead today in Istanbul, but ended after nearly two hours amid skepticism from the US and Europe about the potential for a peace deal to end the war.