Ukraine is ready for peace and a long-term and unconditional ceasefire
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul Friday for their first direct talks since 2022, amid low expectations and renewed violence on the ground. Kyiv is demanding an “unconditional ceasefire,” while Moscow says it aims to address the “root causes” of the war and revive past negotiations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend, sending aide Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the move, saying Moscow was not “serious” about peace.
“Ukraine is ready for peace and a long-term and unconditional ceasefire,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s top aide.
Talks were set to begin at 0930 GMT, though the schedule remained fluid. Kyiv’s chief negotiator is Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, while Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
NATO’s Mark Rutte called Putin’s absence a “big mistake.” Fighting continued during the talks, with Kyiv reporting two deaths from Russian attacks.