Ukraine-Russia peace talks resume without Putin or Zelensky

For the first time since 2022, Ukraine and Russia are set to engage in direct peace talks, although both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be in attendance. The summit, scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul, was proposed by Putin without preconditions, but the Kremlin later announced he would not be present. Instead, his delegation will be led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed interest in attending, confirmed through a US official that he would not participate due to his current tour in the Middle East. The absence of both the Russian and American presidents has tempered hopes for any major breakthrough in the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky had challenged Putin to attend the talks in person, suggesting it would reveal which side is more committed to peace. However, a Ukrainian official said Zelensky would only participate if Putin did. On Wednesday night, Zelensky stated that Ukraine's next steps regarding the Istanbul talks would depend on Putin’s presence, emphasizing that responsibility for the war and its resolution lies with Moscow.

Trump is advocating for a 30-day ceasefire to pause the ongoing conflict, the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Russian lawmakers have hinted at the possibility of including a major prisoner exchange in the discussions. While Zelensky supports an immediate ceasefire, Putin insists on preliminary discussions before any agreement is finalized.

Trump has expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress and is considering secondary sanctions on Russia, potentially targeting buyers of Russian oil. The US delegation to the Istanbul meeting includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Rubio to coordinate diplomatic efforts and share Zelensky’s peace vision. Russia's representatives Medinsky and Fomin were also involved in earlier 2022 negotiations during the war's first month. Other high-ranking military and intelligence figures are also attending.

The last round of direct talks took place in Istanbul in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion began an invasion Moscow justified as a mission to remove neo-Nazis, a claim Ukraine and its allies strongly reject.

Currently, Russian forces occupy about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Despite ongoing military gains, the Kremlin has shown little willingness to compromise. Putin referenced the failed 2022 draft peace agreement, which proposed that Ukraine adopt permanent neutrality in exchange for security guarantees from major powers like the US, UK, China, France, Russia, and others including Germany, Turkey, and Canada.

However, Ukrainian officials maintain that neutrality remains a non-negotiable red line.