Thu May 15 17:08:27 UTC 2025: ## Ukraine and Russia to Hold Peace Talks in Istanbul, Hopes for Breakthrough Dim
**Istanbul, Turkiye** – Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are set to meet in Istanbul on Friday for their first direct peace talks in three years. However, expectations for a significant breakthrough remain low after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined an offer to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkiye.
Zelenskyy announced he is sending a team led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to the talks, emphasizing the immediate need for a ceasefire. Despite this, he expressed skepticism about Russia’s commitment to ending the war, noting the Russian delegation lacks key decision-makers.
The Russian delegation will be headed by presidential advisor Vladimir Medinsky, who characterized the talks as a continuation of unsuccessful negotiations from 2022. Those earlier discussions included demands for significant reductions to Ukraine’s military, terms widely considered unfavorable to Kyiv.
The decision by Putin to send a lower-level delegation has been met with disappointment and concern. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described it as “like a slap in the face,” while others suggest it could lead to increased sanctions against Russia.
Former US President Donald Trump, who advocated for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, dismissed the significance of the talks without his involvement. “Nothing’s going to happen until Russian President Vladimir Putin and I get together, OK?” Trump said.
Despite the dampened expectations, Ukrainian officials maintain the goal is to initiate a de-escalation and work towards a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be traveling to Istanbul for meetings with Fidan and a Ukrainian delegation. While the talks are anticipated to be largely technical, they represent a renewed effort to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict.
First Piper 