Russia and Ukraine Officials Arrive in Istanbul for Direct Peace Talks
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators arrived in Istanbul on Friday for what has been described as their first face-to-face peace talks in over three years, amid mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war that has ravaged Europe since early 2022.
The meeting, hosted at the historic Dolmabahce Palace along the Bosphorus, marks a symbolic step in diplomacy between the two sides, which have not held direct talks since March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough were tempered on Thursday when President Trump emphasized that any significant progress would require a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking from his return flight to Washington following a Middle East tour, Trump said, “I’ll meet with President Putin as soon as we can set it up. But nothing major is going to move until then.”
Talks Begin Under Turkish Mediation
A Reuters correspondent observed white minibuses and black diplomatic vehicles arriving at the palace compound early Friday. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the negotiations began around 0930 GMT, with Turkish, American, and Ukrainian officials initially convening behind closed doors.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged Putin to engage in direct talks, the Kremlin has instead dispatched mid-level officials to the session. Still, Putin’s proposal for Turkey as a neutral ground for peace discussions was accepted by both sides.
The Turkish government, which has maintained diplomatic ties with both Kyiv and Moscow throughout the conflict, is acting as a facilitator for the renewed dialogue.
Background: A War Without End
The Russia-Ukraine war has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions. The war has also reshaped global geopolitics, disrupted energy markets, and caused widespread economic strain.
Despite multiple rounds of international sanctions and military support to Ukraine from Western nations, the frontline has remained largely static in recent months, leading to renewed efforts for diplomacy.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
