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.
Due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and its desire to use food as a weapon, transporting grain and oilseeds from Ukraine to other countries has become extremely difficult. Since 2022, logistics issues have had to be significantly revised in order to find safer shipping routes and options. Despite the dire circumstances created by the Russian Federation, Ukrainians are ensuring food security for many countries, particularly in Europe.
In March 2025, Kyiv exported a total of 4.7 million tons of grain and oilseeds and their processed products. This is 7% more than in the previous month.
“How does Ukraine transport grain and oilseeds, as well as products made from them? The lion’s share goes to the seaports of the Odesa region. This figure is 4 million tons. By rail – 300,000 tons, through the river ports of the Danube – 200,000 tons. It is also exported by road. The volume reaches 100,000 tons,” said grain market analyst Oleksandr Korenitsyn.
Exports of grain crops, oilseeds, and processed products, million tons
Let’s look at the prices of the main agricultural crops that Ukraine exports to world markets. In April 2025, the price of wheat (France, FOB) was 244 USD/ton. Note that this is 3 USD more than in March of this year and 29 USD more than in the same period of 2024. The price of wheat (Ukraine, 2nd class, CPT) in April 2025 was USD 211/t (central regions), which is USD 4 more than in March 2025 and USD 75 more expensive than a year ago. In ports, the price was 229 USD/t, which is 7 USD higher than in the previous month and 65 USD more expensive than in April 2024, according to the International Grains Council.
As for corn (USA, FOB), the price as of April 2025 was USD 211/t. This amount is USD 4 higher than in the previous month and USD 19 higher than in April 2024. The price of corn (Ukraine, CPT) in the central regions is 206 USD/t, thus increasing by 11 USD over the month and by 89 USD over the year; ports – 222 USD, which is 12 USD more than in March 2025 and 78 USD higher than in April 2024.
As noted by Oleksandr Korenitsyn, the price of barley (France, FOB) was 229 USD in April 2025, which is 1 USD less than in March of this year and 26 USD more than in the same period last year. The price of barley (Ukraine, CPT) was USD 195 in the central regions, which is USD 8 more than in March 2025 and USD 102 higher than in April 2024; in ports, it was USD 215 (the price rose by USD 5 per month and USD 85 over the year).
“Another important crop for Ukraine and the world that should be mentioned is sunflower. The price of its seeds in the EU (Rotterdam, FOB) in April this year was 730 USD/t. There has been an increase in price over the last month – by 7 dollars, as well as an increase over the year – by 273 dollars. Meanwhile, the cost of sunflower seeds (Ukraine, CPT) for the central regions was 537 USD/t. The price rose by 10 USD per month and 221 USD per year. For ports, the cost is $512 per ton, which is $6 more than last month and $194 more than last year,” said expert Oleksandr Korenitsyn.
We would like to add that the cost of sunflower oil (Ukraine, FOB) in April was $1,140 per ton. It should be noted that among the key factors that could destabilize further pricing on the world market and affect food security in Europe and the world are Russia’s military actions on the territory of Ukraine.
EUROPE, full-scale Russian invasion, grain exports, Korenitsyn, LOGISTICS, Odessa ports, OILSEEDS, PRICES, UKRAINE, VOLUME
Ukraine has received $50m from the World Bank under the health care project “Transforming Health Care through Reform and Investing in Efficiency” (THRIVE), the Finance Ministry has said. It noted that the condition for receiving these funds was to raise the level of the capital rate of primary health care (payment for care of one patient who filed a declaration on the choice of a doctor who provides primary health care) to a minimum of 825 UAH, and according to the government decision of December 2024, such rate for 2025 is 844.4 UAH instead of 786.65 UAH in 2024.
THRIVE is one of the projects implemented using the financial instrument “Program for Results” (PforR), which provides for the achievement of indicators, upon verification of which Ukraine will attract funds determined by the relevant agreements, said the Ministry of Finance.
The purpose of the project is to assist the government in improving the Medical Guarantee Program (MGP) to create a reliable health care system. The Loan Agreement and Financing Agreement totaling $449 million were signed on December 10, 2024, of which $249 million was provided by Japan. Last year, Ukraine has already received $220 million, which is stipulated in the Loan Agreement (100% of the disbursed funds).
Ukraine and France have signed seven agreements in the healthcare sector worth a total of EUR 51 million, including the construction of a children’s rehabilitation center in Vinnytsia and the reconstruction of a rehabilitation department in Ladyzhyn (partner – Ginger International, funding amount – EUR 15 million).
According to the Ministry of Health, the agreements also provide for the provision of portable X-ray machines to 75 medical institutions in 5 regions: Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Odesa (partner – DMS Imaging, the amount of funding is EUR 10.98 million), providing 58 hospitals throughout Ukraine with the latest technologies for rehabilitation after amputations (partner – Dessintey, the amount of funding is EUR 8 million).
Also, agreements were signed for the purchase of 700 mechanized cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices (EUR 5.92 million), development of telemedicine networks in Odesa, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions (partner – C3Medical, amount of funding – EUR 4.35 million), creation of a network of autonomous micro-clinics based on rehabilitation facilities in Kyiv, Lviv and Poltava (partner – Schiller Medical, the amount of funding is EUR 4.1 million), as well as provision of 150 ultrasound diagnostic systems in medical institutions in all regions of Ukraine (partner – Sonoscanner, the amount of funding is EUR 2.98 million).
The Ministry of Health notes that, taking into account the agreements signed today, France has allocated a total of EUR 130 million to support the medical sector of Ukraine. The projects will be funded by the French government and implemented through French medical companies.
The grant agreement between the French and Ukrainian governments provides for the implementation of 12 more projects in the areas of infrastructure, energy, demining, and water supply worth about €149 million.
On March 22-23, the cost of fuel on the steles of premium networks of filling stations OKKO and WOG decreased for diesel and gasoline A-95 by 5 UAH/l – to 52.99 and 53.99 UAH/l respectively, for liquefied gas (LPG) – by 3 UAH/l, to 35.48-35.49 UAH/l. The companies announced this on their Facebook pages on Saturday.
“Fuel prices are valid when refueling at all filling stations of the network (…) are valid when buying at “Gamanets PRIDE” up to 500 liters”, – noted, in particular, in WOG.
In turn, according to enkorr, the Kiev network of filling stations KLO from March 22 to 24 reduced prices for light petroleum products by 5-7 UAH/l depending on the brand, for LPG – by 2 UAH/l. Discounts are valid only upon presentation of a coupon at the cash desk.
According to enkorr, since the beginning of the week the trend of cheaper fuel has started in retail chains. In particular, the cost of fuel, depending on the operator and type, has decreased to 2 UAH/liter.
Following the agreements between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara, Deputy Head of the Office of the Head of State Ihor Brusilo held an online meeting with Minister of Economy and Development of Cote d’Ivoire Niale Kaba.
The key topic of discussion was activation of mutually beneficial cooperation in promising sectors of economy: agricultural industry, trade, infrastructure projects and professional training of Ivorian students in Ukrainian higher educational institutions. Côte d’Ivoire expressed readiness for partnership, in particular due to the beginning of direct dialog between the sectoral ministries.
Special attention is paid to the expansion of the legal framework of bilateral relations in trade and economic sphere. This will ensure favorable interaction in many sectors.
In addition, Brusilo and Kaba agreed on practical steps aimed at the implementation of the agreements reached.
The meeting was also attended by: Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Oksana Osmachko, Director General of the Directorate for Foreign Policy and International Military-Technical Cooperation of the Office of the President Ruslan Kurochenko and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
