Istanbul Hosts Ukraine-Russia Talks After Major Attacks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul for renewed peace talks following a weekend of record-setting drone and airbase attacks. Ukraine claimed the destruction of over 40 Russian aircraft, while Moscow responded with the largest drone barrage of the war. Hopes for a breakthrough remain low as both sides remain far apart on ceasefire terms.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Quick Looks
- Delegations met Monday in Istanbul for second round of peace talks
- Talks follow Ukraine’s long-range drone attack on four Russian airbases
- Ukraine destroyed over 40 Russian warplanes in a surprise operation
- Russia retaliated with 472 drones, largest barrage since 2022 invasion
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the meeting at Ciragan Palace
- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led Kyiv’s delegation
- Russian aide Vladimir Medinsky represented the Kremlin
- Putin accused of stalling diplomacy to gain more territory
- U.S. and EU pressure increasing for meaningful ceasefire progress
- Frontline fighting, civilian shelling continue across southern Ukraine
Deep Look: Ukraine and Russia Resume Peace Talks in Turkey After Escalating Attacks
ISTANBUL (AP) — Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia resumed Monday in Istanbul, following a dramatic weekend of high-stakes military escalation. The talks, held at the historic Çırağan Palace, mark the second direct meeting in just over two weeks—but hopes for a ceasefire remain slim amid deepening battlefield intensity.
Ukraine’s delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Russia’s team was headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior adviser to President Vladimir Putin. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan formally opened the dialogue, urging both sides to seek a path to de-escalation.
Unprecedented Ukrainian Strike on Russian Airfields
Hours before the talks began, Ukraine stunned military analysts by launching a surprise drone assault on four Russian airbases across three time zones—from the Arctic to the Far East. The operation destroyed more than 40 aircraft, including strategic bombers and surveillance planes, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Chief Vasyl Maliuk, who oversaw the mission, described it as a “major slap in the face for Russia’s military.” Drones were concealed in trucks stationed near remote Russian airbases, allowing them to strike before defenses could react.
“This was a brilliant operation,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, praising the long-planned and logistically complex attack.
Russia Responds with Record Drone Barrage
In retaliation, Russia launched its largest drone strike to date, firing 472 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Ukraine in a single night, according to the Ukrainian air force. The barrage targeted civilian and military infrastructure, part of an ongoing pattern of Russian strikes aimed at exhausting Ukraine’s air defenses.
Ukraine said it shot down 52 of 80 drones launched during the final wave. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted 162 Ukrainian drones across eight regions and the annexed Crimean peninsula.
No Breakthrough Expected in Istanbul
While both sides returned to the table, diplomatic expectations are low. U.S.-led calls for a ceasefire have yielded little, and officials from both Kyiv and Moscow admit they remain far apart on core issues.
“Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and prolong the war in order to make additional battlefield gains,” the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a weekend assessment.
Zelenskyy, speaking at a summit in Vilnius, said:
“Russia must feel what its losses mean. That is what will push it toward diplomacy.”
The Trump Factor and U.S. Impatience
“Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump posted on social media, referencing recent attacks on Kyiv.
His administration’s efforts to broker a ceasefire have faltered, with some officials now questioning whether Putin is deliberately stalling to regroup militarily. The first Istanbul talks on May 16 produced only a prisoner exchange, with no movement on larger issues like troop withdrawals or territorial claims.
Economic and Civilian Toll Continues to Rise
The war’s consequences are being felt globally. On Monday, Asian markets dipped and oil prices surged amid fears of prolonged conflict. Back on the ground in Ukraine, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the fighting.
- Three people were killed and 19 injured in Kherson due to Russian shelling
- A separate missile strike near Zaporizhzhia left five dead and nine wounded
These attacks come as the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line sees little pause in hostilities, with both armies engaging in long-range strikes and counterattacks.
Airfield Strike Exposes Russian Military Weakness
According to Phillips O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, Ukraine’s ability to hit Russian airbases so far from the front is “hard to underestimate.” He called the drone assault a severe blow to Russian strategic airpower, highlighting critical defensive vulnerabilities.
Russian military bloggers, often critical of command decisions, also blasted the failure to protect aircraft. Some pointed to the lack of hangars and protective barriers for bombers as key security lapses.
What’s Next: Diplomacy or Deadlock?
Zelenskyy warned that if Monday’s talks yield nothing, he would call for new, stronger international sanctions against Russia:
“If the Istanbul meeting brings nothing, that clearly means strong new sanctions are urgently, urgently needed.”
Whether diplomacy gains traction or the war enters an even more dangerous phase may depend on what unfolds in the coming days, both in Istanbul’s palace halls and on the battlefield across Ukraine and Russia.
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