Turkiye Hosts First Talks in 3 Years Between Russians and Ukrainians

• Delegates from Russia and Ukraine convene at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.
• The U.S. Secretary of State expresses skepticism about significant progress.
• Trump states he will meet with Putin when possible.

On Friday, representatives from Russia and Ukraine gathered in Istanbul for their first in-person peace negotiations in over three years, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve Europe’s most lethal conflict since World War II.

Live broadcasts depicted Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressing the negotiators at the opulent Dolmabahce Palace situated along the Bosphorus. Half of the Ukrainian delegation donned military fatigues and faced their Russian counterparts, who were dressed in business suits.

Fidan emphasized the urgency of establishing a ceasefire, expressing relief at both parties’ willingness to seek a new opportunity for peace. He noted that it was vital for the Istanbul discussions to lay the groundwork for a meeting between the leaders of the two nations.

“We have two paths ahead of us: one leading to a process of peace, and the other towards further devastation and loss of life. It is up to both sides to choose their path,” Fidan remarked.

The two sides had not engaged directly since March 2022, a month following Russia’s invasion.

As anticipation for significant outcomes remained low, hopes were further dimmed Thursday when Trump, concluding a tour in the Middle East, declared that progress would be unlikely without a meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The head of Ukraine’s delegation outlined that a peace agreement is contingent upon Russia agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire, the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children, and a full exchange of prisoners of war.

Russia has claimed it seeks to conclude the hostilities through diplomacy and is open to discussing a ceasefire. However, they have raised concerns that Ukraine might use a ceasefire to regroup and strengthen their military capabilities.

Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of stalling, asserting that Putin lacks a genuine interest in peace.

Putin’s Absence

Although Putin initiated the request for direct discussions in Turkey, he rejected President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s invitation for an in-person meeting, opting instead to send a team of mid-level officials. In retaliation, Ukraine appointed negotiators of equivalent rank.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, were also present in Istanbul, where diplomatic activities were bustling earlier that day.

Rubio shared with the press on Thursday evening that the level of negotiators present suggested that a significant breakthrough was improbable.

“I hope I’m wrong. I truly hope that tomorrow the headlines announce a ceasefire agreement and a commitment to serious negotiations. But, based on my assessment, that’s the reality,” he stated.

On Friday, Russia announced that it had captured another village as part of its gradual advance in eastern Ukraine. Just before the Istanbul meeting commenced, Ukrainian reports indicated air alerts and explosions in the city of Dnipro.

Russia views the negotiations as a continuation of early discussions from 2022, also held in Istanbul.

However, the proposed terms back then, during the initial shocks of Russia’s invasion, would have severely disadvantaged Ukraine, including demands for substantial reductions in its military.

Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, asserted that any attempts by Russia to align the current discussions with earlier unsuccessful negotiations would be futile.

With Russian forces now controlling nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, Putin continues to insist on his longstanding demands for Ukraine to relinquish land, abandon its aspirations for NATO membership, and adopt a neutral status.

Ukraine categorically rejects these conditions as a form of capitulation and is seeking security guarantees from global powers, particularly the United States.

Widespread Hostility

Since repelling Russia’s initial attack on Kyiv in 2022, Ukraine has reclaimed significant amounts of territory lost during the war’s first year. However, Russian troops have made steady gains for most of the last two years.

The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military casualties on both sides, along with significant civilian losses, widespread destruction of cities, and the displacement of millions of Ukrainians.

Moscow argues that it was compelled to launch its “special military operation” due to NATO’s expansion and fears of Ukraine joining the alliance and using it as a base for potential assaults on Russia. The Kremlin asserts that any resolution to the conflict must address these “root causes.”

Meanwhile, Kyiv and its allies dismiss this narrative as a flimsy justification for what they describe as an imperial-style land grab.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the chief of Ukraine’s army, reported late Thursday that Russia currently has around 640,000 troops stationed in Ukraine, targeting a prolonged war of attrition. He noted ongoing combat along the entire extensive frontline.