The high-level meeting in Istanbul ended after roughly 90 minutes with no meaningful progress. Ukrainian officials stated that Moscow’s proposals were unacceptable and went far beyond any previously discussed terms.
Ukraine Rejects New Russian Conditions as Provocative
According to Ukrainian sources, Russia introduced demands that had not previously been part of any diplomatic dialogue. Among them was a requirement that Ukraine withdraw its forces from vast areas of its own territory currently under its control. A Ukrainian delegate told the Associated Press that such conditions were completely unacceptable.
Ukrainian negotiators accused Moscow of deliberately introducing impossible terms to stall any progress. While Kyiv reiterated its commitment to a ceasefire and launching a genuine diplomatic process—goals also supported by the United States and European partners—no official response to these proposals was given by the Russian delegation.
Prisoner Exchange the Only Tangible Outcome
Despite the impasse, both sides agreed to a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war. This was the only concrete outcome from the discussions, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. In all other major areas of contention, the differences between the two sides remained unresolved.
A senior Ukrainian government official said there was still a chance for a second round of talks later the same day, but no additional meetings had been confirmed. He noted that further contact would depend on whether the Russian side received new instructions from Moscow.
Talks Opened by Turkey Amid Dispute Over US Participation
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the negotiations with a call for an immediate ceasefire—a key demand of Ukraine. His speech was shared via video by the Turkish foreign ministry. However, prior to the talks, the Russian delegation reportedly refused the participation of U.S. diplomats, delaying the start of the meeting initially scheduled for Thursday.
Despite Ankara’s efforts, logistical and diplomatic disagreements postponed the opening of the discussions and hindered broader engagement.
Putin and Zelensky Absent from Istanbul Meeting
Russian President Vladimir Putin had originally proposed the Istanbul meeting in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for an unconditional ceasefire. Putin coordinated the proposal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has consistently attempted to mediate between the two nations since the start of the war.
Neither Putin nor Zelensky attended the talks. Zelensky canceled his appearance shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his own planned visit. The Ukrainian leader criticized the level of the Russian delegation, calling it insufficiently senior. Negotiations on the Russian side were led by Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister and current presidential advisor, who also participated in failed 2022 talks in Istanbul.
Trump Pushes for One-on-One Talks with Putin
During his visit to the Gulf states, Donald Trump announced plans to return to Washington and seek a direct meeting with President Putin as soon as the opportunity arises. While Trump was absent from the talks, his advisor on Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate discussions in Istanbul. Trump reiterated his belief that resolving the war in Ukraine would require a direct personal dialogue between him and Putin.
EU Considers New Sanctions Amid Kremlin’s Rejection of Ceasefire
In Brussels, the European Union is preparing another round of sanctions against Russia, prompted by the Kremlin’s refusal to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the upcoming measures and commented cautiously on the Istanbul talks.
Speaking at an EU summit in Albania, Merz called the resumption of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv a small but hopeful development. However, he emphasized the need to intensify diplomatic efforts while continuing military support for Ukraine. His remarks came before the full details of the meeting were made public.
Sources: dpa, AP, AFP
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