Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a delegation of senior officials to attend this week’s negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, according to a directive published by the Kremlin website Wednesday night.

Vladimir Putin will not travel to Turkey and is instead sending the deputy foreign affairs and defence ministers, the head of his military intelligence, and the presidential aide, who will lead the delegation,

Vladimir Putin mocked the leaders of Western nations during a 'Business Russia' meeting, after European leaders threaten the country with further sanctions.

Last weekend saw a flurry of diplomatic activity surrounding the war in Ukraine. First, European leaders assembled in Kyiv on Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a show of unity to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire.