Ukraine and Russia on Friday, held their direct peace talks in Istanbul, marking the first discussions between the two nations in over three years.
Expectations however, remain low for a breakthrough in ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Kyiv is pushing for an “unconditional ceasefire” to end the violence, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and devastated large parts of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasised that peace is vital but criticised Moscow for not showing a genuine willingness to negotiate.
On the other hand, Moscow’s stance is focused on addressing the “root causes” of the conflict and revisiting the failed 2022 negotiations, where Russia made sweeping territorial and political demands of Ukraine.
The talks, held at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, were officially opened by Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, at 1:35 pm local time (1035 GMT).
Fidan sat at the head of a table, with Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian flags in the background. The two delegations were seated across from each other in the meeting room, while hundreds of journalists gathered outside.
The day before the meeting, both sides exchanged harsh words. Ukrainian President, Zelensky accused Moscow of not being “serious” about the peace process, stating that Russia had failed to send a credible delegation.
Russian President, Vladimir Putin also declined to attend, sending a second-level delegation instead, which further fueled skepticism about Moscow’s intentions.
Despite the tensions, the mere fact that the talks were taking place was seen as a positive step, with both Ukraine and Russia under intense pressure from Washington to engage in dialogue.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov highlighted the importance of future talks between President Putin and US President Donald Trump in resolving the conflict. Peskov described the meeting as “extremely important” for the Ukrainian settlement.
Ukraine’s top official, Andriy Yermak, reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace, stating, “Ukraine is ready for peace and a long-term, unconditional ceasefire.”
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