No breakthrough in first Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in over three years

The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years concluded on Friday in Constantinople, lasting less than two hours and yielding no visible progress. According to a Ukrainian source, Russia’s demands were “unacceptable from the outset.”

The meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations—the first since March 2022—was held at the Dolmabahçe Palace and ended after approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, a Turkish foreign ministry official confirmed at 3:20 p.m. local time.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was present at the meeting, though the content of the discussions was not disclosed. However, a Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters that the gap between the sides was quickly apparent: “Russia’s demands are unrealistic and far exceed anything previously discussed.”

The source added that the Russian side presented “preconditions that are unacceptable from the outset and not constructive.”

While a senior Ukrainian official did not rule out the possibility of further talks, no follow-up meeting has yet been scheduled. “It’s possible something could happen today,” the official said. “But at the moment, nothing is planned. Our teams are ready to work as long as needed.” He criticised the Russian delegation as “weak” and incapable of making “any meaningful decision to end the war.”

So far, there has been no official response from the Russian side.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, was reportedly prepared to negotiate the possibility of a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a Ukrainian diplomatic source speaking to AFP.

Ukrainian representatives are expected to hold a press briefing following the talks.

At the opening of the talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for “an immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, emphasising that “each day of delay leads to more human losses.”

Expectations for the negotiations were already low and dropped further on Thursday when U.S. President Donald Trump stated: “Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I meet,” suggesting that significant progress hinges on his personal involvement.

President Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s top priority: “a complete, unconditional, and sincere ceasefire… To stop the killings, we need to build a solid foundation for diplomacy.” He added that if Russia refuses, the international community must impose stronger sanctions, especially targeting Russia’s energy and banking sectors.

Source: ANA-MPA / orthodoxtimes.com