In a significant yet cautious step towards resolving the ongoing conflict, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met face-to-face on Friday in Istanbul for their first direct peace talks in over three years. The meeting, held at the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, was marked by the presence of a Turkish delegation, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who opened the session with a speech.
The talks come under increasing international pressure, including from then US President Donald Trump, who has urged both sides to find a path to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. However, expectations of a breakthrough remain low, especially after Trump stated that no progress would be possible without a personal meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation emphasized Kyiv’s priorities for peace. These included a 30-day ceasefire, the return of Ukrainian children abducted during the conflict, and a comprehensive prisoner exchange. Ukraine’s team stressed that peace is conditional upon Russia meeting these demands.
Russia expressed willingness to discuss a ceasefire but raised concerns that such a pause could allow Ukraine to regroup, mobilize additional troops, and acquire more Western weapons. Russia’s delegation was led by mid-level officials following President Putin’s proposal for direct talks but refusal to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in person. In response, Ukraine sent negotiators of similar rank.
The talks took place alongside other diplomatic activities in Istanbul, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg were also present for separate meetings. Rubio tempered hopes of immediate progress, acknowledging that the level of negotiators suggested a major breakthrough was unlikely but expressed hope for positive outcomes.
As the talks were underway, Russia announced it had captured another village in eastern Ukraine amid its slow but steady advance. Ukrainian media simultaneously reported air alerts and explosions in the city of Dnipro, underscoring the ongoing volatility despite diplomatic efforts.
The Istanbul meeting is seen as a rare sign of diplomatic progress, though the road to peace remains challenging with deep-seated distrust between the two sides.
Sources By Agencies
