COPENHAGEN: The European Union鈥檚 top diplomat Kaja Kallas said Tuesday she didn鈥檛 think Russian President Vladimir Putin would turn up for talks in Turkiye this week with Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The meeting set for Thursday in Istanbul would be the first direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials since the early months of Moscow鈥檚 invasion in 2022.

Zelensky has urged Putin to personally attend the talks that the Kremlin leader himself suggested, but Moscow has so far declined to respond to the invitation.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a good move if they sit down,鈥� Kallas told a democracy conference in Copenhagen, adding: 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think he dares, Putin.鈥�

鈥淚t has been over two months since Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire,鈥� she said.

鈥淩ussia is clearly playing games, trying to find time, hoping that time is on their side. We haven鈥檛 seen any good efforts or good signs from their side.鈥�

Ukraine said Tuesday that a Putin no-show would be a clear sign that Moscow is not serious about peace.

鈥淚f Vladimir Putin refuses to come to Turkiye, it will be the final signal that Russia does not want to end this war, that Russia is not willing and not ready for any negotiations,鈥� Zelensky鈥檚 chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said in a statement.