Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sent a delegation to Istanbul for face-to-face peace negotiations with Russia, the first since March 2022. The move comes despite Moscow sending a lower-level delegation and increasing pressure from former US President Donald Trump, who claims any real progress hinges on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Addressing in Ankara after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv would urge an immediate 30-day ceasefire. He made it clear that Ukraine’s attendance, under the leadership of Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, was a demonstration of support for peace and a signal to Trump. “In respect for President Trump and Erdogan, I have decided to send our delegation,” Zelenskyy declared.
The negotiations will take place at the historic Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Trump’s representative Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are likely to be present, though their functions are not clear.
Uncertainty shrouded the run-up to the negotiations, with Ukrainian and Russian delegations showing up in various cities. Putin rejected Zelenskyy’s appeal for a personal meeting, further lowering expectations of breakthroughs. Trump, however, indicated that any settlement is dependent on him and Putin sitting down: “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” he said.
Rubio seconded this view, stating that the only way towards a breakthrough is a Trump-Putin summit. The Russian side, headed by former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, indicates Moscow’s seeming absence of serious purpose, experts opine.
Zelenskyy condemned the Russian strategy as one of trying to sabotage the process. “No agenda, no decision-makers it’s disrespectful,” he complained. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s actions look like an effort to demonstrate the sincerity of Kyiv while criticizing Russia for the lack of a willingness to bargain.
