Can Vladimir Medinsky Effectively Lead Russia in Turkiye Peace Talks with Ukraine?

 We should talk about Vladimir Medinsky and the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a lot of concern. From time to time, both sides agree to meet for talks. Turkiye is one country that helps organize these meetings. Russia often sends a group led by Vladimir Medinsky. He used to be Russia’s Minister of Culture and later became an aide to President Putin.

Still, many people wonder if he’s really the one making the big decisions. In Russia, leaders at these talks usually follow directions from the Kremlin. So Medinsky might not be speaking for himself—he may just be repeating what Putin wants.

His past actions also make people unsure. He helped rewrite school books to match the government’s views, which many saw as propaganda. He also once said that Russians have an extra chromosome, which sounded strange and even offensive. That made some people question his judgment.

So can Medinsky lead peace talks well? If leading means following orders, then maybe yes. But if it means helping both sides trust each other and find peace, that seems unlikely. Many believe these talks are more about appearances than real progress.