Vladimir Putin is afraid over being assassinated if he meets with Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey on Thursday.The 72-year-old tyrant has escalated security measures and remains ensconced within his Kremlin stronghold,

Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky could come face to face in Turkey this week - but it wouldn't be the first time the world leaders have met in person.

Vladimir Putin will not attend Thursday’s Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, despite calls from Zelensky, Trump and Brazilian President Lula. Kremlin named a delegation of military and intelligence officials instead.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that if President Trump attended the talks, it would put pressure Russia’s leader, Vladimir V. Putin, to meet face-to-face.

Sceptical Ukraine tries to beat Putin at his own game in peace talks - ANALYSIS: ‘Putin is not strong in direct negotiations. He’s strong in playing games,’ a senior Ukrainian source tells chief inter

The Kremlin has not confirmed whether Vladimir Putin will attend proposed peace talks in Istanbul on Thursday. Donald Trump said he might go, and his envoys are set to attend. Ukraine is holding off on confirming participation,

U.S. and European officials held talks on May 12, during which Washington made it clear that it wanted to allow talks between Russia and Ukraine before increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg.

Trump vows to attend Turkey talks ‘if Putin does’ as peace summit hangs in balance - Zelensky says he will fly to Istanbul at a moment's notice if Putin does show up