Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country's delegation to direct talks with Russia in Istanbul is 'at the highest levels,' while criticizing President Vladimir Putin for sending what he called 'merely a decorative' delegation. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova attacked him, calling Zelenskyy a 'clown' and a 'failure.' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also criticized the Ukrainian president, calling him 'pathetic.'