Zelensky called the Russian delegation a sham, Zakharova called Zelensky a clown

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Ankara for a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called the level of the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul a formality.

"We are starting meetings with President Erdogan in the composition of an expanded Turkish delegation. We are in contact with the American side, and I think they will also be represented in Turkey at a high level. If we look at the level of the Russians, from our point of view it looks more like a sham," Zelensky said.

It should be recalled that the talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul are scheduled for the second half of the day. Russia is represented at the talks by Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of Russia (head of the delegation), Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Foreign Minister, Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense.

The meeting between Zelensky and Erdogan is scheduled for 15:00 Yerevan time.

According to Zelensky, the next steps will be clear after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which will last several hours.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on Zelensky's assessment of the Russian delegation, said: "A clown and a loser is talking about worthy people."