Translated with AI
On May 16, 2025, a new round of negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine began in Istanbul. The meeting is taking place in a symbolic place – the presidential palace Dolmabahce on the shore of the Bosphorus, where important diplomatic events have previously been held. The start of the negotiations was reported by the agencies Reuters , Interfax and TASS .
Context of the meeting: positions of the parties and international support
Before the start of direct dialogue with the Ukrainian delegation, Russian representatives met with American diplomats. After this meeting, the Russian group was joined by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the Russian president. However, Moscow, according to Reuters , insisted that the negotiations with Ukraine be held without the participation of third-party states, including the United States and Turkey. Representatives of these countries, according to Russian media, left the site after the official greeting.
On the Ukrainian side, the negotiations are supervised by the head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak, the Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov and the diplomat Andriy Sybiha. Before the meeting with the Russian delegation, the Ukrainians held coordination talks with representatives of the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany – Keith Kellogg, Jonathan Powell, Emmanuel Bonn and Gunther Sauter respectively.
Turkey's appeal and the goals of the Ukrainian side
The official opening of the talks was accompanied by an address from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. He welcomed the efforts of the parties aimed at achieving peace.
The Ukrainian side is making clear demands: the priority is an unconditional and long-term ceasefire . Andriy Yermak stated this on his Telegram channel. Humanitarian measures are also being discussed, which, according to Kiev, should become the basis for strengthening trust between the parties. Among them are the return of Ukrainian children , detained civilians, and the exchange of prisoners of war according to the formula "all for all" .
Possibility of a personal meeting between Zelensky and Putin
According to Reuters , the talks are raising the issue of a possible personal meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin . However, Ukrainian sources emphasize that before any serious steps are taken, it is necessary to achieve a reliable ceasefire and establish control over its observance.
Conclusion
Thus, the talks in Istanbul are taking place under conditions of high tension, but with active international attention and coordination. Russia insists on limiting the influence of external actors, while Ukraine demands concrete steps to de-escalate and protect the rights of its citizens. The question remains whether this round of talks will lead to a real breakthrough or will remain one of the interim attempts to establish a dialogue.
