A Russian delegation has reached Istanbul for discussions with Ukraine, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived in Ankara alongside other senior officials. This development was reported on Thursday.
Notably, President Vladimir Putin did not join the Moscow delegation, as indicated by a list from the Kremlin released the previous night.
The Russian team, headed by Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky, consists of three other high-ranking officials and four lower-level appointees designated as experts for the talks, according to the Kremlin.
This week, Zelensky urged Russian leaders to convene in Turkey to discuss the end of a war that has persisted for over three years. He expressed his willingness to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while awaiting Putin’s presence.
The Ukrainian delegation includes key figures like Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office. One source spoke anonymously for security reasons, as the team was still on its way to Ankara.
“After three years of immense suffering, we finally have a chance,” stated Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a NATO conference in Turkey. “The Istanbul talks may lead to a new chapter.”
Zelensky’s stance remains firm; he is willing to meet with Putin at the negotiation table, as conveyed by presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak.
The details regarding a potential meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations remain unclear, but it’s anticipated they will be revealed after Zelensky and Erdogan confer.
The talks are scheduled to be held at the Bosphorus presidential office.
Moscow offered consultations instead of a ceasefire
On Wednesday evening, Putin met with key officials in preparation for the consultations, as stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Attendees included Defense Minister Andrei Belusov, Prime Minister General Valery Gerasimov, and National Security Council Secretary Sergei Shuig.
Kiev and its European allies have been pressing the Kremlin for a complete, unconditional 30-day ceasefire as an initial step towards peace. However, Putin effectively dismissed the proposal, preferring direct consultations between the two nations.
The Kremlin’s request for Thursday’s discussions marks a “resumption” of negotiations that began in Istanbul early in the 2022 conflict but quickly deteriorated. Moscow has accused Ukraine and the West of perpetuating the fighting, while Kiev argues that Russia’s demands are unacceptable and resemble an ultimatum.
The Russian delegation is once again led by Vladimir Medinsky.
Putin’s proposition follows over three months of diplomacy initiated by US President Donald Trump.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has indicated that without significant progress, it may reassess its peace efforts.
Trump had urged both leaders to meet in Istanbul, expressing little surprise that Putin didn’t attend on Thursday, dismissing it as a non-issue.
“I never thought it was impossible to proceed without Putin’s presence,” Trump remarked during a roundtable in Doha, Qatar.
US and European leaders have warned Russia of potential additional sanctions if further progress isn’t made in halting hostilities.
NATO Minister returns to Ukraine
Late Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham in Antalya, Turkey.
Antalya hosted NATO Foreign Ministers on Thursday to discuss updated defense investment goals as the US shifted its attention to European security challenges.
Sybiha reiterated Ukraine’s support for Trump’s mediation efforts, thanked the US for ongoing assistance, and urged Moscow to adopt a “constructive” approach for peace, stating, “So far, it’s not going well.”
On Thursday morning, Sybiha met with various European foreign ministers, including France’s Jean-Noël Barrot.
“We are in a challenging situation, and we hope to achieve progress that leads to an end to this conflict and prevents future wars,” Rubio emphasized.
Finland’s Erina Valtonen criticized Moscow, suggesting it shows no genuine intent to engage in serious peace discussions in Antalya amid NATO deliberations.
“There’s one chair that belongs to Vladimir Putin. Right now, I believe the willingness to engage in serious negotiations resides solely with Russia,” she remarked.
Barrot echoed this sentiment, stating, “Before the Ukrainians lies an empty chair for Putin. All indications suggest he is reluctant to participate in these crucial peace talks.”
