Ukrainian and Russian reps are heading to Istanbul, Turkey, for their first meeting since the start of Moscow’s 3-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Russian Prez Vladimir Putin won’t be there, even though Ukrainian Prez Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited him for a face-to-face. The return to Istanbul is significant, as it was the site of the Istanbul Communiqué in 2022, a potential peace deal framework that ultimately fell apart due to increased war intensity and alleged Russian war crimes.
The Istanbul meeting will not have Putin, but Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation. Zelenskyy and Putin last met in person in 2019 in France as part of the Normandy Format peace forum. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the resulting separatist revolt in the Donbas region. Zelenskyy stated that he would only meet with Putin, as everything in Russia depends on the president.
The U.S. delegation to Turkey includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized the importance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Despite the talks, there are low expectations for an immediate breakthrough, with Russia indicating a desire to maintain pressure on Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Rubio to express Ukraine’s commitment to peace efforts while urging Russia to reciprocate constructive steps. The talks come after Putin proposed a 30-day ceasefire backed by European leaders during a joint visit to Kyiv.
