President Donald Trump’s pressure may have helped bring Russian and Ukrainian officials to meet in person for peace talks for the first time in over three years. The meeting took place in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday at Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus.
This rare diplomatic step happened amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to bring the war to an end. The war has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Trump himself has been touring around the Middle East, gulping up investment pledges from rich Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Live footage showed both delegations seated with a Turkish team. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed them at the start of the talks.
“We welcome this engagement. Turkey is always ready to help,” Fidan said.
Trump Pushes for Direct Meeting with Putin
The talks began on Friday, but hopes of progress fell when President Trump himself undercut them by saying a breakthrough may not come until he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He probably wants a deal from Putin, too. In March, he successfully signed on Ukraine for a mineral deal for the United States.
“I will meet Putin as soon as we can set it up,” Trump said during his return trip from the Middle East.
Trump has pushed for a quick resolution to the war. But analysts say there is little hope for progress unless the U.S. and Russia speak directly at the highest level.
Ukraine’s lead negotiator said peace depended on three conditions.
“We need a 30-day ceasefire, return of our abducted children, and exchange of all prisoners of war,” he said.
Concerns Over Ceasefire Conditions
Russia said it is open to a ceasefire but raised concerns about Ukraine’s intentions.
Officials in Moscow worry Ukraine could use the break to regroup, recruit more soldiers, and get new weapons from the West.
President Putin sent mid-level officials to Turkey instead of going himself. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by sending officials of equal rank.
“If Putin won’t meet me, I won’t raise our negotiation level either,” Zelensky said last week.
Putin’s decision has drawn criticism from Ukraine and its allies. They see it as a sign he may not want a real peace deal.
Rubio and Kellogg Present, But No Major Breakthrough
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg attended private meetings in Istanbul.
Rubio expressed doubt about the talks’ success.
“I hope I’m wrong. I hope the news tomorrow says they agreed to a ceasefire. But I’m just giving you my honest assessment,” Rubio told reporters Thursday night.
At the same time, Russia said it had taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine. Fighting in that region remains intense.
Just minutes before the Istanbul talks began, air alerts sounded in Dnipro. Ukrainian media reported explosions in the city.
The war, now in its third year, has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Several global peace efforts have failed to stop the fighting.
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