Ukraine and Russia delegations to meet in Istanbul later this week.
For the first time in more than three years, Ukraine and Russia are preparing to sit at the negotiation table, aiming to restart peace efforts. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, either on Thursday or Friday, though top leaders from both sides—Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin—will not be present.
Zelensky, who had earlier travelled to Ankara for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, confirmed he would not join the talks, citing Putin’s refusal to meet directly. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will instead lead the delegation from Kyiv.
Moscow Sends Top Officials, But Kyiv Remains Doubtful
Representing Russia in the negotiations will be Vladimir Medinsky, a known loyalist to Putin and a former culture minister. He will be joined by other senior officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and intelligence head Igor Kostyukov.
Zelensky was quick to dismiss the makeup of the Russian delegation, saying it shows Moscow is not serious about stopping the war. He questioned whether the Kremlin truly intends to find peace or simply wants to drag out the process.
No Ceasefire Yet, as Demands Clash
Despite the planned talks, the war on the ground continues, with Russia still controlling around 20% of Ukrainian land since its full-scale invasion in 2022. The toll has been devastating, with thousands of lives lost and cities destroyed.
Ukraine enters the discussions demanding a full and unconditional ceasefire, a position supported by Western allies. Russia, however, wants deeper issues addressed first—including Ukraine’s military capabilities and possible surrender of occupied
