VLADMIR Putin will not attend the crunch Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul this week, snubbing President Zelensky.

The list for the Russian delegation at Thursday’s meeting was released by the Kremlin – and Putin’s name was a glaring omission.

Zelensky had challenged Putin to meet him face-to-face to hammer out a deal, but Putin has chosen to dodge the path to peace once again.

Shortly after it was established Putin was staying away, a US official confirmed that Trump would not be attending either – after previously hinting he might.

It’s not clear whether Zelensky will still go to Istanbul.

Speaking on Air Force One on Wednesday, Trump said: “[Putin] would like me to be there, and that’s a possibility.

“I don’t know that he would be there if I’m not there. We’re going to find out.”