Ukraine to attend Istanbul peace talks amid US calls for Trump-Putin summit
Ukraine has confirmed its participation in new peace talks with Russia, to be held in Istanbul, marking the first face-to-face engagement between the two countries since negotiations collapsed in 2022. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed strong reservations about the seriousness of Russia’s intentions, calling the Kremlin’s delegation “low-level” and “disrespectful.”
The Ukrainian delegation will be led by the country’s Defence Minister, while Russia is sending presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who also headed Moscow’s team during the failed 2022 negotiations.
Speaking in Ankara, President Zelensky criticized Russia’s approach, saying that the lack of a set agenda or senior representatives undermines the significance of the talks.
“This is personal disrespect to President Erdogan and President Trump. No time, no agenda, no seriousness,” Zelensky stated during a press conference.
The talks come at a crucial moment in the conflict, with Russia continuing to make slow advances in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Adding another layer to the unfolding diplomatic developments, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also in Turkey, suggested that progress at the talks may be limited without a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“It’s my assessment that there won’t be a breakthrough until President Trump and President Putin meet directly,” Rubio said on Thursday.
Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his tour of the Middle East, said he might attend the Istanbul talks “if appropriate.” He added that Putin had expressed reluctance to engage unless he was also present.
“Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump told reporters, adding, “Too many people are dying. We have to get this solved.”
As of Thursday evening, the meeting had not yet begun, with reports suggesting a possible delay to Friday.
In Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky described the current talks as a continuation of the dialogue that began in 2022 but was abandoned after Russia escalated its invasion. He emphasized that Russia seeks a long-term resolution to the conflict by addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the war.
Russia is expected to maintain its previous demands, including that Ukraine declare neutrality, reduce its military strength, and drop ambitions to join NATO—conditions Kyiv has firmly rejected as unacceptable.
Elsewhere, Western allies are intensifying calls for tougher sanctions on Russia. Following a meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said that only increased international pressure could compel Russia to negotiate in good faith.
“We must increase the pressure on President Putin. Sanctions are a crucial tool to bring him to the table,” Healey said.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the situation on the ground remains volatile. On Thursday, Russian forces claimed to have taken control of two more villages in eastern Ukraine, heightening concerns about the humanitarian toll of the war. With tensions high and expectations low, the Istanbul talks represent both a fragile opportunity and a stark reminder of the diplomatic impasse that continues to fuel one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts in recent history.
