Moscow/Kyiv/Istanbul, May 15 (EFE).— Ukraine and Russia are expected to resume direct negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday, but confusion and doubts continue to mount over the scope, seriousness, and intentions behind the talks.
Delays, low-level representation, and mixed international signals have cast a shadow over what was initially billed as a significant diplomatic moment.
The peace talks, expected to begin Thursday morning in the Turkish city, were postponed until the afternoon at Turkey’s request, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 1 pm local time at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, followed by a private meeting and a working lunch with their delegations.
Zelenskyy recently challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a face-to-face meeting, an invitation the Kremlin declined.
Putin is not attending the talks and has instead dispatched a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, an adviser known for his staunch nationalist views.
Upon his arrival in Ankara, Zelenskyy criticized the makeup of the Russian delegation.
“It seems like a farce,” he said.
“We will evaluate our next steps after talks with Erdogan. We need to understand the mandate of the Russian delegation, whether they are capable of making decisions. Everyone knows who decides in Russia.”
Key Developments So Far:
The Russian Delegation and Putin’s Absence
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the length of the negotiations “will depend on how they go,” indicating no fixed timeframe.
The Russian delegation is led by cultural affairs adviser Vladimir Medinsky and includes a deputy foreign minister, a deputy defense minister, and a senior officer from the Russian General Staff.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, not part of the delegation, called for giving the negotiations a chance but rejected the idea of a ceasefire, arguing it would allow Ukraine time to rearm.
US Pressure and Signals
Speaking from Doha, US President Donald Trump said he would consider flying to Istanbul on Friday “if appropriate,” expressing interest in meeting Putin, even though the Russian leader is not attending.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that there is “no military solution” to the war.“The sooner an agreement can be reached, the fewer people will die. That is the president’s goal,” Rubio said at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Antalya, Turkey.
Ukraine’s Diplomatic Coordination
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha met with Rubio and Senator Lindsey Graham to share Zelenskyy’s peace strategy and coordinate positions.
“We discussed the logic of next steps in the peace process. Russia must know there’s a cost to avoiding meaningful negotiations,” Sybiha said.Ahead of the talks, Sybiha also met with his counterparts from , , and Poland.
“We discussed steps to increase the cost of war for the aggressor, including tougher sanctions on Russia and additional strengthening for Ukraine,” he posted on X.
With expectations tempered and the stakes high, all eyes are on Istanbul to see whether diplomacy can gain ground, or merely buy time. EFE
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