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Russia and Ukraine Hold First Direct Peace Talks in Over Three Years

Delegations meet in Istanbul under Turkish and US facilitation, but low expectations persist as fighting continues in eastern Ukraine.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan with Russia's delegation head Vladimir Medinsky at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul
Turkish security personnel stand alert at the entrance to Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, where talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected on Friday
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara

Overview

  • Russian and Ukrainian delegations, led by Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov respectively, convened at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul for their first direct negotiations since 2022.
  • Turkey hosted a tripartite meeting involving Russian, Ukrainian, and Turkish officials, with US representatives also engaging in separate discussions with both sides.
  • Ukraine's delegation prioritized securing an immediate ceasefire, while Russia reiterated demands for territorial concessions, neutrality, and military limits on Ukraine.
  • The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the capture of Novooleksandrivka and Torske in eastern Ukraine, though Kyiv has not confirmed these reports and heavy fighting persists along the 1,100-km front line.
  • US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed skepticism about progress, with Trump emphasizing the need for a direct meeting between himself and President Putin to achieve a breakthrough.