Russian and Ukrainian delegations have met in Istanbul, according to a report by Reuters issued shortly after 12:00 PM today, citing television sources. The discussions are to be chaired by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, as also reported by Reuters.
On Friday, representatives from the United States, Ukraine, and Turkey convened in Istanbul to explore avenues for ending Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The talks, which lasted approximately one hour, were attended by the foreign ministers of the respective countries: Marco Rubio, Andriy Sybiha, and Hakan Fidan.
Russia-Ukraine: Delegations Meet
As reported by the Reuters agency, the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations did, in fact, take place.
Prior to the engagement with the Ukrainian side, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, held discussions with a representative of the United States government, according to Russian media reports. Later, the RIA agency, as cited by Reuters, confirmed that Medinsky had arrived for the meeting with the Ukrainian representatives.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source informed Reuters that Russia insisted the talks in Istanbul proceed without the participation of representatives from the United States or Turkey.
At this time, it has been clarified that the talks will be led by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan.
Kyiv Presents Its Demands
“We are prepared for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, as we have previously declared during meetings with our American partners in Jeddah and Riyadh. Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations at the highest level. Today, we have come to Istanbul in search of concrete paths toward a lasting and just peace,” wrote Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on social media.
The Minister emphasized that peace would only be possible if Russia is prepared to undertake specific actions, including agreeing to a comprehensive ceasefire for at least 30 days and implementing humanitarian measures, such as the repatriation of forcibly deported Ukrainian children and a prisoner exchange based on the “all-for-all” principle.
The Defence Minister also reported that, along with the Head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, he held meetings with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Gen. Keith Kellogg, UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, French President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s foreign and security policy advisor Guenter Sautter.
“We coordinated our positions with our counterparts prior to today’s meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul. The Ukrainian side reaffirmed its commitment to peace efforts, highlighting the constructive steps undertaken in recent weeks and months,” Umerov added.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s partners—the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—for their support in the peace process. “We are also thankful to Turkey for facilitating today’s meeting, providing a platform for negotiations, and for its active involvement in the pursuit of a just peace in Ukraine,” he added.
“We continue our struggle for a just and enduring peace and will not cease our efforts to achieve it,” declared the Minister.