For the first time since 2022, Russia and Ukraine engaged in direct peace talks on Friday in Istanbul, marking a significant diplomatic development amid the ongoing war. The rare face-to-face meeting took place at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, with Ukraine pushing for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, while Russia sought to revisit the failed 2022 negotiations and address what it called the “root causes” of the conflict.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, presided over the session, seated between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations beneath the flags of the three nations. The talks lasted nearly 90 minutes and concluded at 12:20 GMT, according to a source from Turkey’s foreign ministry who is familiar with the negotiations.
Ukraine’s main demand was an immediate and full ceasefire, without preconditions. However, a Ukrainian diplomatic source indicated that Russia had made territorial demands during the session that Kyiv found “unacceptable,” accusing Moscow of trying to sabotage the negotiation process. Sources said another round of talks might take place later Friday evening, though this has yet to be officially confirmed by either side.
The Istanbul talks took place under increasing pressure from the international community, particularly the United States, to bring both parties to the negotiation table. While many observers speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might attend the talks in person, Putin opted not to participate in this initial round.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on Friday that “contacts between Presidents Putin and Trump are extremely important in the context of the Ukrainian settlement,” suggesting that future leadership-level dialogue is seen as vital by Moscow. However, there was no indication that such a meeting is imminent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a European summit in Albania, reaffirmed Ukraine’s primary objective: “Our number one priority is a full, honest, and unconditional ceasefire. This must happen immediately to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy.”
Zelensky warned that failure to secure a ceasefire would expose Russia’s continued resistance to diplomacy. “If a ceasefire cannot be agreed, it will be 100 percent clear that Putin continues to undermine diplomacy,” he said. “And in that case, the world must respond—with strong sanctions, particularly targeting Russia’s energy sector and banks.”
Several high-profile international figures were in Istanbul during the talks, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg, and national security advisors from the UK, France, and Germany.
Secretary Rubio echoed global calls for an end to the violence, stating through State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce: “The killing needs to stop. We seek a peaceful resolution to this conflict.” French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed frustration over President Putin’s absence from the talks, describing it as a missed opportunity to accelerate serious diplomacy.
Sticking Points and Continued Violence
One of the main sticking points remains Russia’s reported demand that Ukraine withdraw its forces from several territories it currently controls. Kyiv rejected these conditions outright.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov—who has personal and political ties to Crimea, the region annexed by Russia in 2014—led the Ukrainian delegation. Despite the diplomatic overtures, Russia continued military strikes in the hours leading up to the meeting, with Ukrainian authorities reporting two civilian deaths.
While the outcome of Friday’s talks remains uncertain, the session represents a crucial step toward renewed diplomatic engagement. Observers now await further developments as the possibility of a follow-up round looms later in the day.
