Istanbul Hosts Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Restart/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in three years on Friday in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey, amid widespread skepticism about progress. Key differences remain, especially over ceasefire terms and territory. President Trump and European allies push for renewed diplomacy despite continued battlefield violence.
Russia, Ukraine Launch First Peace Talks in Years: Quick Looks
- Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul Friday, marking their first direct peace talks in three years.
- The negotiations were brokered by Turkey, but expectations for breakthroughs were low.
- Ukraine sent a high-level delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
- Russia’s delegation was headed by aide Vladimir Medinsky, prompting Ukrainian criticism.
- President Trump confirmed plans to meet Putin, saying, “It’s time for us to just do it.”
- Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal, but Russia has imposed sweeping conditions.
- A deadly drone strike in Kupiansk killed one and wounded four during the talks.
- On the battlefield, Ukrainian soldiers remain skeptical, anticipating more fighting this summer.
- Western allies met in Istanbul before the talks, including U.S., U.K., France, and Germany.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said breakthroughs depend on direct Trump-Putin engagement.
Istanbul Hosts Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Restart
Deep Look
In a long-awaited but cautiously received move, Russia and Ukraine held direct peace negotiations in Istanbul on Friday—their first face-to-face talks in three years—though both sides and their international allies tempered expectations of a major breakthrough.
The Turkish-brokered meeting took place at a time of persistent military escalation and mounting international pressure for de-escalation. Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, sat across the table from a Russian team headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. The session was symbolic in form but fraught in substance, as the nations remain deeply divided over the terms of any ceasefire.
According to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, the teams gathered around a U-shaped table, emphasizing the formal—but tense—atmosphere. Ukrainian officials insisted they came to Istanbul with a mandate to pursue meaningful negotiations, but whether Russia shares that intention remains unclear.
An unnamed senior Ukrainian official, speaking to the Associated Press, described Kyiv’s approach as serious and solution-oriented.
“The outcome depends on whether Moscow is truly here to talk or just perform,” the official said.
The meeting comes as both nations try to reassure U.S. President Donald Trump, who has voiced frustration with the slow pace of diplomacy. Trump, speaking Friday from Abu Dhabi as he concluded a regional tour, announced he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “as soon as we can set it up,” stating, “It’s time for us to just do it.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the importance of such a summit, saying top-level talks are “certainly needed,” though he cautioned that organizing them would take time.
Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.- and EU-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal, but Russia has rejected the offer unless its broader demands are met. According to Western military analysts and Ukrainian officials, Russia is preparing for another large-scale offensive, signaling that Moscow may still be betting on battlefield leverage over diplomatic compromise.
On the ground, tensions remain high. In northeastern Ukraine, a drone strike on the city of Kupiansk killed a 55-year-old woman and wounded four municipal workers on Friday morning, according to regional officials.
From the front lines, skepticism dominates. A Ukrainian soldier known by the call sign “Corsair” told AP, “Summer is the best time for war. I don’t think they will agree on anything concrete.” Still, he said there’s hope among troops for at least a fragile peace before year’s end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had challenged Putin to a one-on-one meeting the day before, criticized Russia for sending what he described as a “theater prop” delegation. Still, he moved forward with his own delegation’s participation, hoping to demonstrate to the U.S. and allies that Ukraine is committed to diplomacy.
Behind the scenes, intense diplomatic coordination unfolded. Ukrainian negotiators met Friday morning with national security officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany to align strategy. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, led the U.S. team. Turkey also facilitated a three-way meeting including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio, speaking Thursday in Antalya, offered a sober forecast: “We don’t have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow. It’s abundantly clear that the only way we’re going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy traveled to Albania to participate in a broader European summit focused on regional security and democratic values in light of the ongoing war.
The meeting in Istanbul may not have yielded a breakthrough, but it reopens a long-dormant diplomatic channel. Whether the path leads to peace or merely delays further conflict may hinge not only on battlefield dynamics—but on whether Trump and Putin can broker the next phase of negotiations.
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