There's enormous pressure on Putin to come. If he doesn't, it's clear that he's the one who wants to prolong this war.
That's a PR disaster.
But Putin still thinks he can win this war. Coming to Istanbul means admitting that there needs to be talks about ending the war, and that's very different from simply winning a war.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/putin-thinks-he-can-win-why-would-he-negotiate
It would be a humiliation, and it completely contradicts the image he's presented of this war in Russia. The Russians have constantly been told that everything is going according to plan.
Having to hold talks with the enemy breaks that image.
So there's a chance Putin will be a no-show.
Will he send a minister? Or will he skip it entirely? We'll know tomorrow.
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