New Phase of Talks Between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul
Direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow have commenced in Istanbul at 12:30 PM on Friday, marking a long-awaited event for both nations.
The Russian news agency TASS had previously confirmed that the discussions would begin at noon.
This meeting is the first since the last round of talks in Istanbul in 2022 ended without any agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that these current discussions might continue from where the last ones left off.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while the Russian side is represented by former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, known for his hawkish stance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the aim is to reach an agreement for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, although the lower-level Russian delegation is likely not authorized to announce such a truce.
A U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the Ukrainian representatives ahead of the negotiations in Kyiv and Moscow.
Putin, who initially offered talks in response to Western pressure, will not be attending today’s discussions.
Zelensky will also be absent, criticizing Putin for sending a “decorative” delegation instead of attending in person.
In discussions with Western officials, the meetings in Istanbul were described as “either a grand mess or a very sophisticated game of diplomatic chess.”
Earlier, the West urged for increased sanctions against Moscow if it fails to adhere to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday, May 12, but later emphasized that progress from Moscow is needed before any sanctions are imposed.
The Kremlin stated that the delegation aims to address the so-called “root causes” of its invasion, which in previous statements has meant neutralizing Ukraine.
