The first face-to-face peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years ended after less than two hours on Friday, with no sign of a breakthrough and stark differences between the two sides. A Ukrainian source described Moscow’s demands as “non-starters,” further dampening expectations for progress.
Delegations from both nations met at a palace in Istanbul, marking the first direct talks since March 2022, just after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian source said that Russia’s demands were “disconnected from reality” and far exceeded prior discussions. They included ultimatums for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of its territory in exchange for a ceasefire, which Ukraine dismissed as “non-constructive” and unrealistic.
While no official statements were made by the Russian side, the Ukrainian source’s comments indicated a deep divide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that Ukraine’s top priority remains a “full, unconditional and honest ceasefire” to halt the bloodshed and lay the groundwork for diplomacy. He also called for further sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and banks if Moscow refuses.
Despite Russia’s stance that it seeks a diplomatic end to the war, Ukraine and its allies accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling peace efforts. Russia, concerned that Ukraine may use a ceasefire to rearm and bolster its forces with Western weapons, remains cautious about halting the conflict.
The talks, originally proposed by Putin, were further strained by his decision to send mid-level officials in his place, rejecting Zelenskiy’s challenge to meet in person. This move set the tone for the meeting, which was held between negotiators of similar rank from both sides. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier suggested that no significant breakthrough was expected due to the low level of representation, a sentiment echoed by others involved in the talks.
At the start of the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the negotiators, “There are two paths ahead of us: one will lead to peace, the other to more destruction and death,” urging both sides to make their choice.
As the talks were underway, Russian forces claimed to have captured another village in their slow eastward push in Ukraine. Meanwhile, explosions were reported in Dnipro, just minutes before the start of the meeting.
The negotiations also mirrored earlier attempts made in 2022 in Istanbul when Ukraine, still reeling from Russia’s initial invasion, faced demands from Moscow that included significant reductions in its military. Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskiy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, dismissed any efforts to link the current talks to those early negotiations, which would have left Ukraine in a precarious position.
While Russia continues to demand that Ukraine cede territory, renounce its NATO aspirations, and adopt a neutral stance, Ukraine firmly rejects these conditions as capitulation. Kyiv is seeking security guarantees, particularly from the United States, to ensure its sovereignty in the long term.
The future of the talks remains uncertain, with no clear indication of whether negotiations will resume.