Istanbul, Turkey — Delegates from Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to meet again in Istanbul for a new round of peace negotiations aimed at ending the prolonged conflict between the two nations. The meeting is set for Monday at 1:00 PM local time (1000 GMT) at the historic Çırağan Palace on the Bosphorus.
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| (Photo by Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) |
This latest diplomatic attempt marks only the second official peace dialogue since the war began more than three years ago. The talks are reportedly being facilitated at the request of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in brokering a ceasefire.
During their previous session in Istanbul last month, both sides agreed on a large-scale prisoner exchange and shared preliminary ideas about what a peace deal might entail. However, despite that initial progress, the atmosphere surrounding this upcoming meeting remains tense and uncertain.
No Clear Signs of Compromise from Either Side
Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has signaled any significant shift in their positions. The Kremlin has kept its official demands under wraps but plans to present a formal peace proposal memorandum during the talks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, along with the release of all prisoners held by Russia. He has also requested a direct one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin—a demand the Kremlin has so far ignored.
The Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to Putin who was involved in previous negotiations back in 2022. Ukraine’s team will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Observers from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom will also be in attendance, represented by their respective diplomatic advisors.
Escalation on the Ground Ahead of Talks
The scheduled talks follow one of the most intense weekends of warfare in recent months. Ukrainian forces launched a major drone offensive, striking military airfields in five Russian regions. According to Ukraine’s intelligence service, the attacks caused an estimated $7 billion (€6.17 billion) in damages and destroyed 41 Russian aircraft.
President Zelenskyy praised the operation as an "absolutely brilliant achievement" and a turning point in Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities.
However, Ukraine also suffered heavy losses over the weekend. Russian forces retaliated with a barrage of missile and drone strikes—472 drones and seven missiles were reportedly launched by Moscow overnight. One of the missiles hit a Ukrainian military training facility, killing at least 12 soldiers, according to local officials.
Outlook for Peace Talks Remains Grim
While the upcoming meeting in Istanbul is being framed as a critical opportunity for conflict resolution, international analysts remain skeptical. With Russia avoiding public discussion of its terms and Ukraine holding firm on a full ceasefire and troop withdrawal, the likelihood of a meaningful breakthrough appears slim.
Still, some observers believe the inclusion of European diplomats and high-level representation from both nations could pave the way for incremental progress—even if a full peace agreement remains far off.
Conclusion
As Ukraine and Russia gear up for the second round of peace talks in Turkey, the stakes are higher than ever. With continued hostilities on the battlefield and no visible signs of compromise from either side, the world watches closely, hoping for diplomatic movement in a war that has claimed thousands of lives and reshaped global geopolitics.
