Hopes for a major breakthrough in the Ukraine-Russia war were dampened as the first direct peace talks since 2022 begin in Istanbul without the presence of either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While both leaders had been central figures in calls for negotiation, each has now stepped back from direct involvement in the talks, fueling skepticism over how much progress can realistically be made.
Putin had originally proposed the summit for May 15, claiming it would be held “without any preconditions.” However, the Kremlin announced late Wednesday that he would not attend, instead sending a delegation led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, both of whom were involved in the failed 2022 talks.
Zelensky, en route to Turkey on Wednesday, had previously challenged Putin to attend, warning he would only join the discussions if Putin himself were present. In his nightly address, Zelensky reiterated that true answers lie in Moscow, underlining Ukraine’s position that Russia must take full responsibility for starting and continuing the war.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, currently on a Middle East tour, also declined to attend in person despite earlier expressing interest. Instead, the U.S. delegation in Istanbul is headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and top advisers Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the U.S. and Ukraine have coordinated closely to present a unified peace vision.
Trump has proposed a 30-day ceasefire as an immediate step, while Putin insists that negotiations must first lay the groundwork before any pause in hostilities is implemented. Russia has also hinted at potential prisoner exchanges, while Trump threatens secondary sanctions on Russia — including penalties for nations buying its oil — if it obstructs peace efforts.
The talks evoke memories of the March 2022 Istanbul negotiations, which produced a draft agreement proposing Ukraine’s neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from key global powers. That deal eventually collapsed, with Ukraine now stating clearly that neutrality remains a red line.
Despite the symbolic weight of renewed dialogue, the absence of both presidents and ongoing battlefield escalation, with Russia now controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, cast a long shadow over Istanbul’s diplomatic halls. Whether these talks can reignite hope for peace, or simply serve as political theater, remains uncertain.
