On May 16, 2025, the first direct talks in more than three years between delegations from Ukraine and Russia began in Istanbul, aimed at finding ways to end the ongoing conflict.
The meeting is being held at the Dolmabahçe Palace, mediated by Turkey and attended by high-ranking US officials.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. It also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Polak, and other high-ranking representatives of law enforcement and diplomatic agencies.
The Russian side is represented by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky. The delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Director of the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GUGS) Igor Kostyukov, and other officials.
Before the start of the bilateral talks, trilateral meetings were held: first between Turkey, the US, and Ukraine, and then between Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also participating in the talks.
Reactions and expectations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment at the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the talks, saying that the Russian delegation “has no authority to make decisions.” He stressed that Ukraine is committed to achieving a 30-day ceasefire, while Russia insists on broader negotiations, including issues of territorial concessions and renouncing NATO membership.
The United States and European countries support the initiative to establish a 30-day ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said that significant progress is only possible if he meets with President Putin in person.
International support
China has expressed support for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, calling on all sides to reach a fair and lasting peace agreement.
Turkey, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to play an active role in mediating between the parties to the conflict, providing a platform for talks and facilitating dialogue.
Despite low expectations, the start of negotiations in Istanbul is seen as an important step towards a possible peaceful settlement.
The Coalition of the Willing will continue to support Ukraine if Russia refuses to agree to a 30-day ceasefire and is ready to strengthen sanctions, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
“If Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire, which would be the basis for negotiations that could begin immediately, then we will continue to defend Ukraine and we will continue to increase pressure on Russia,” Merz said at a joint press conference with leaders of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on Saturday.
According to him, almost all EU members and representatives of the Coalition of the Willing are ready to impose sanctions if Russia does not accept their initiative. “We are all working to ensure that Russia finally agrees to a ceasefire and does not put forward any conditions, again and again,” Merz said.
He also recalled that prior to today’s summit, the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing had communicated with US President Donald Trump and informed him personally of the results immediately after the meeting.
“We are grateful to the US president for fully supporting our initiative, sharing it, and being fully involved in it,” Merz emphasized.
Both Russia and China are interested in establishing relations with the United States, US President Donald Trump said on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on Tuesday.
Asked by the host if it was possible to believe that Putin really wants this, while he is influenced by “his close friend, President Xi of China,” Trump replied that “we have our own discussions with President Xi of China, and he also wants to make a deal and we want to make a deal with him. And we will do that.”
Trump blamed the Barack Obama administration for the rapprochement between Russia and China.
“Obama really forced them together through energy and bad energy policy. And when he did so many different things, he forced (them) into a marriage that should never have happened. Because it’s unnatural. And for one reason: Russia has a huge territory, a lot of land, and China doesn’t have enough land. Russia has a much smaller population than China. And it’s natural, it’s always been a natural hostile situation,” Trump said.
“Maybe they’re friendly now, but we’re going to be friendly with both of them. I think we will be friendly with both. China desperately needs us in terms of trade, but we have to equalize the deficit,” he added.
“I think President Xi would like to reach an agreement, and I think Russia would like to reach an agreement with the United States,” Trump summarized.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he remains a consistent supporter of peace, and “where we can act as peacemakers, we are happy to take on this responsibility.”
“Because India is the land of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. And Indians are not prone to enmity and conflict. Instead, we support harmony… We stand for peace. And wherever we can act as peacemakers, we are happy to take on that responsibility,” Modi said in an interview for Lex Friedman’s podcast, published on Sunday.
According to the prime minister, he has good relations with both Ukraine and Russia.
“I have close relations with both Russia and Ukraine. I can sit with President Putin and say that now is not the time for war. And I can also say to President Zelensky in a friendly way that, brother, no matter how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a solution on the battlefield. The solution will come only when both Ukraine and Russia sit down at the negotiating table,” the Indian Prime Minister said.
“It was difficult to find peace at first, but the current situation provides an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia,” Modi emphasized.
According to him, the war has brought “a lot of suffering, even the Global South has suffered”. “The world is struggling with the crisis of food, fuel and fertilizers. So, the international community must unite in the pursuit of peace. As for me, I have always maintained that I am on the side of peace. I am not neutral. I have a position, and it is peace. And peace is what I am striving for,” Modi summarized.
President of the United States Donald Trump has promised that on Monday, March 17, there will be news about the ceasefire talks with Ukraine and Russia. He said this in an interview with journalist Sheryl Attkisson, answering a question about his communication with Putin.
“We are dealing with him, and I think it’s a reasonable thing to do. The situation is very complicated, you know, it’s a bloody, terrible war. I think everything is going well. You know, we have a ceasefire agreement with the Ukrainians. And we are trying to get it with Russia. And I think that so far it’s gone well. We’ll know a little bit more on Monday. And I hope it goes well,” Trump said.
The United States and Russia have agreed on four principles after talks that lasted more than four hours in Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday, CNN reported. The senior official listed them.
“Restore the functionality of our respective missions in Washington and Moscow. In order for us to continue down this path, we have to have diplomatic institutions that are open and functioning properly,” he said.
“We’re going to appoint a high-level team from our side to help negotiate and work to end the conflict in Ukraine in a way that is lasting and acceptable to all parties involved,” Rubio said.
“To begin discussing, contemplating and exploring both geopolitical and economic cooperation that could result from an end to the conflict in Ukraine,” the Secretary of State added.
“The five of us who were here today… will continue to be engaged in this process to make sure it moves forward in a productive way,” the State Department head summarized.
The five people Rubio mentioned were himself, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff, as well as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
“President Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace and is using its power in the world to bring countries together. President Trump is the only leader in the world who can convince Ukraine and Russia to agree to this,” Rubio added.
The secretary of state also said that “one phone call followed by one meeting is not enough to establish a lasting peace. We must act, and today we took an important step forward.”
Rubio expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting him under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
As reported, on Tuesday, the first round of talks between US and Russian officials took place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), which lasted more than four hours. As previously reported by the media, the main topic of the talks should be the end of the Russian war in Ukraine.
