ZA Russian delegation has arrived in Turkey for the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in over three years. But the delegation does not include Russia’s President Vladimir Putin nor its foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov; instead, several of Putin’s deputies are attending. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia’s presence “decorative” as he arrived in Ankara today. Zelensky had challenged Putin to negotiate a face-to-face peace deal. Shortly after Russia’s announcement, the White House said President Donald Trump would also skip the peace talks.

On Wednesday, officials in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Sumy said a Russian missile attack on an industrial site killed at least three civilians.