Daijiworld Media Network – Istanbul
Istanbul, May 16: In a rare diplomatic engagement, Russia and Ukraine sat across the table on Friday in Istanbul for their first direct peace talks in over three years, though hopes of a breakthrough remained slim amid hardened positions and ongoing hostilities.
The 90-minute meeting, hosted by Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan at the historic Dolmabahce Palace, marked a tentative step toward ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. However, Ukraine’s demand for an ‘unconditional ceasefire’ was met with what it described as ‘unacceptable’ territorial demands from Moscow.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source told AFP that Russia was insisting Ukraine withdraw from areas under its control in exchange for a ceasefire a condition Kyiv immediately rejected. “They are putting forward non-starters to ensure talks end without results,” the source added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from a European summit in Albania, warned of global consequences if diplomacy fails. “If there’s no ceasefire, it’s 100 percent clear that Putin continues to undermine diplomacy. The world must respond with strong sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and banks,” he said.
The meeting was overshadowed by barbs traded ahead of the talks. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of sending ‘empty heads’ to the table, while Russian President Vladimir Putin himself skipped the meeting, delegating the task to Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister with limited political weight.
Putin’s absence drew criticism from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte slammed the Russian leader for not attending, calling it a blow to the peace process.
Adding to the significance of the meeting was the presence of top Western officials. Ukrainian delegates met with US secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Keith Kellogg, and national security advisors from Britain, France, and Germany. “The killing needs to stop,” Rubio said, calling for a peaceful resolution.
Despite these efforts, Russia’s stance remained unchanged, with Medinsky describing the Istanbul session as a continuation of failed 2022 talks. “We have a clear mandate from President Putin to explore solutions,” he claimed.
Ukraine’s lead negotiator, defence minister Rustem Umerov himself a Crimean Tatar made it clear that Kyiv will not accept any territorial concessions. Russia, meanwhile, refuses to discuss returning occupied territories.
As talks concluded, shelling by Russian forces continued, killing at least two people in Ukraine. Whether these tentative diplomatic steps can lead to de-escalation remains uncertain, but Friday’s meeting marked the first direct interaction between the warring sides since 2022 a move seen as a glimmer of hope in a war with no clear end in sight.