$BTC

Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTC retreats further as chances of major breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine peace talks weaken :

Bitcoin price edges below $102,000 on Thursday after repeated rejections at the $105,000 resistance over the past five days.

Neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey.

Traders should be cautious as the BTC long-to-short ratio reaches its lowest level in a month, increasing bearish bets.

Bitcoin (BTC) price is edging below $102,000 at the time of writing on Thursday after repeated rejections at the $105,000 resistance over the past five days. Traders look towards Turkey, where Ukraine-Russia peace talks are held, although chances of a major breakthrough look dim as neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the meetings.

Putin won't attend peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend Thursday’s proposed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, Reuters reported. As for Trump, the US President said he would go to the talks on Friday "if it is appropriate."

Russia will instead send a delegation led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has firmly stated he would only engage directly with Putin, is expected to decide on Kyiv’s participation after a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan later on Thursday. From the US, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are expected to attend.

Ukraine has yet to officially confirm its presence or name a delegation, casting uncertainty over its response. The likelihood of talks yielding meaningful progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war is slim without top leaders.

However, any positive outcome could restore investor confidence, trigger a risk-on sentiment across markets, and drive up prices of risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin price edges down as bearish bets increase.