Ukraine and Russia are set to engage in their first direct peace talks in over three years, with negotiations scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Thursday or Friday. While the world watches cautiously, hopes for a breakthrough remain low due to the ongoing deep rift between the two nations and the absence of their respective presidents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey and met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday. However, he announced he would not participate in the talks after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined his invitation for face-to-face negotiations. Instead, Zelensky has sent a delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
On the Russian side, the delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Putin and former culture minister who was previously involved in peace efforts in 2022. Other members include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and GRU intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. The absence of senior figures such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has drawn criticism from Zelensky, who questioned Moscow’s commitment to a genuine resolution.
Ukraine enters the talks demanding an unconditional ceasefire, a position backed by its Western allies and the United States. Russia, however, continues to push for broader discussions on what it terms the “root causes” of the conflict, including the controversial and undefined goals of “denazification” and demilitarisation of Ukraine. Moscow has also reiterated its demand for Ukraine to cede occupied territories—an outcome Kyiv strongly rejects.
The talks are being held in Turkey, a NATO member that has maintained open lines with both parties throughout the conflict. Ankara previously hosted negotiations in 2022, which collapsed following the massacre of civilians in Bucha.
While Turkish officials remain hopeful, global observers are skeptical. Former U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected in Istanbul on Friday for discussions with European counterparts, although his role in the peace effort remains unclear. As the war drags on with no resolution in sight, the Istanbul talks represent a rare diplomatic engagement—but with little expectation of immediate progress.
