Russia–Ukraine Talks in Istanbul End Without Breakthrough as Demands Derail Ceasefire Hopes
By Kardo Roj
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – The first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 concluded in Istanbul on Friday with no tangible progress, as officials from both sides cited deep divisions and irreconcilable demands, particularly regarding territorial concessions.
The two-hour session, hosted under Turkish mediation, aimed to revive diplomatic engagement and explore the possibility of a short-term ceasefire. However, Ukrainian officials described Russia’s proposals as “unacceptable,” saying they exceeded previously discussed terms and included additional territorial compromises.
A senior Ukrainian official told Agence France-Presse that the Russian delegation “raised demands inconsistent with prior understandings,” including Kyiv’s surrender of more territory in exchange for a 30-day ceasefire.
The meeting in Istanbul was part of a broader series of multilateral talks involving Turkish, American, Ukrainian, and Russian officials. The day began with a trilateral session between Turkey, the United States, and Ukraine, followed by a separate meeting including the Russian delegation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were present throughout the talks, underscoring Ankara’s role as a key intermediary between conflicting parties.
Despite Turkey’s efforts to build consensus, Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak warned prior to the meeting that “attempts by Russia to link these discussions to the failed 2022 negotiations are bound to fail.”
The Turkish government, which maintains strategic relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, has offered itself repeatedly as a neutral ground for high-stakes diplomacy. Yet, Friday’s outcome illustrates the limitations of third-party mediation in the absence of mutual political will.
Tensions also emerged over the participation of U.S. officials. A high-ranking Ukrainian source alleged that the Russian delegation actively attempted to exclude American envoys from key stages of the negotiations, a move seen as undermining transparency.
“Russia is doing everything it can to keep the Americans out of the room,” the official said. “Perhaps they don’t want a third party witnessing the obstruction of talks.”
While U.S. diplomats were involved in preliminary sessions with Turkey and Ukraine, their exclusion from the direct Russia–Ukraine meeting has raised questions about Moscow’s willingness to engage in a framework endorsed by broader international actors.
The Istanbul talks centered on the proposal of a 30-day ceasefire aimed at de-escalating hostilities along contested frontlines in eastern Ukraine. However, with both parties failing to agree on core terms, especially regarding the status of occupied regions, the prospect of even a temporary truce appears remote.
Russia’s continued insistence on territorial recognition for its military gains since 2022 remains a non-starter for Kyiv, which views such demands as violations of international law and national sovereignty.
The absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the negotiations—alongside what Ukrainian sources described as inflexible rhetoric from Moscow—further dampened optimism for a diplomatic breakthrough.