The Ukrainian delegation was seen walking from direct consultations with Russia in Istanbul on Monday.
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by the Turkish government at a historic palace in Istanbul, ran for less than four hours on Monday afternoon. This meeting occurred at a particularly tense time for both nations, possibly as a show of strength prior to negotiations, considering that both sides had engaged in significant drone attacks over the weekend.
A Ukrainian team, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, was spotted coming down the stairs of the Sillagan Palace into the courtyard, where official vehicles were waiting.
Umerov mentioned that Russia had provided Ukraine with a memorandum regarding a ceasefire proposal, and the Ukrainian team planned to take a week to weigh its options. He also spoke about agreeing to a prisoner exchange for those who are severely injured, sick, or under 18, alongside an arrangement for exchanging deceased individuals.
In what he described as hints of progress, Umerov indicated that he discussed the possibility of future meetings between leaders, specifically Putin and Zelensky. This topic has been on the table for months without much tangible movement toward a resolution.
Earlier in the afternoon, representatives from both countries gathered around a large table in the palace along with several senior Turkish officials, including a high-ranking pastor and the head of intelligence. Although Russia had previously stated it preferred not to have mediation during the talks, Turkey’s involvement seemed to lend some support, particularly after the recent in-person meetings that concluded abruptly.
One of the contentious issues leading up to these negotiations was the status of Ukraine’s ceasefire, which Ukraine insisted needed to be established before meaningful peace discussions could commence. Ukraine recorded Russia’s proposal for a ceasefire in advance while asking for a reciprocal agreement. Meanwhile, Russia expressed its desire to avoid negotiations in public or solely in private settings, indicating it would prefer to submit notes instead.
Ukraine had raised concerns about attending the talks due to Moscow’s stance on the exchange of memorandums.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not in Istanbul, as he was attending a meeting in Lithuania. Before the discussions began, he remarked that failure would primarily rest on Russia’s shoulders, which would signal to the international community to impose more sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky argued that stronger sanctions should be enacted, emphasizing “the strongest sanctions that President Trump has promised.” The US President has previously considered second sanctions aimed at punishing countries that engage in trade with Russia rather than targeting Russia directly, effectively cutting off access to global markets for commodities like gas and oil.
