Hopes for peace between Russia and Ukraine were dashed once again as their first face-to-face negotiations in over three years ended abruptly in under two hours. The meeting, held at a historic palace in Istanbul on May 16, produced no tangible progress, with a Ukrainian official describing Russia’s demands as completely unrealistic and unacceptable.
The talks, meant to be a step forward in resolving Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, instead highlighted the vast divide between the two sides. According to a Ukrainian negotiator who spoke anonymously, Russia insisted on “non-starters,” including demands for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of its own territory in exchange for a ceasefire. These conditions, the source said, were far removed from any prior agreements and displayed a complete disregard for the realities on the ground.
Russia, so far, has not issued an official statement about the outcome of the talks.
Expectations had already been tempered when U.S. President Donald Trump, wrapping up a tour in the Middle East, remarked that no significant progress would be made until he personally met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made clear that Kyiv’s primary objective remains a full and unconditional ceasefire to stop the ongoing bloodshed. He emphasized that if Moscow continues to stall, harsher sanctions—particularly targeting Russia’s energy sector and financial institutions—should be imposed.
While Moscow insists it is open to diplomacy and willing to negotiate a ceasefire, it has also voiced concerns that Ukraine might exploit any pause to regroup, bolster its forces, and acquire more Western weapons. Kyiv and its allies view this claim as an excuse for stalling, accusing President Putin of lacking genuine interest in peace.
During the Istanbul meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged both delegations to choose wisely. “There are two roads ahead—one leading to peace, the other to further destruction and death,” he said.
Visibly reflective of the ongoing war, the Ukrainian delegation included members in military uniforms, while the Russian side appeared in formal suits. Despite Russian being widely spoken in Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegates insisted on communicating in their native language—a subtle but significant assertion of sovereignty.
Though President Putin had initially proposed the Turkish talks, he declined Zelenskiy’s challenge to attend in person. Instead, he sent mid-level representatives, prompting Ukraine to do the same. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had predicted the lack of high-level engagement would likely mean no breakthrough.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russia reported capturing another village in eastern Ukraine, continuing its slow but steady advance. Just minutes before the meeting in Istanbul, Ukrainian media reported air raid alerts and explosions in the city of Dnipro, underlining the urgency of a peaceful resolution.
Moscow has framed these discussions as a continuation of the failed 2022 negotiations, which had included extreme proposals such as drastically reducing Ukraine’s military. However, Ukraine’s top officials, including Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, rejected any attempt to revive those earlier conditions.
Putin continues to demand that Ukraine relinquish its NATO aspirations, cede significant territory, and adopt a neutral stance—demands Kyiv sees as a call for surrender. Ukraine, on the other hand, insists on ironclad security guarantees from major world powers, particularly the United States.
With no next meeting scheduled, the path to peace remains as uncertain as ever.
