Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are poised to head to direct peace talks in Türkiye on Thursday, though doubts remain whether both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky will attend in person.
While U.S. envoys have pledged their participation in the talks in Istanbul, the attendance of the two leaders at the center of the conflict remains uncertain.
Putin proposed on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine could resume direct negotiations in Türkiye, with Zelensky responding on Tuesday that he had reached an agreement with Turkish President Erdogan to meet in Ankara on Thursday.
However, Zelensky also iterated that he would only be willing to meet with Putin, and not with any other Russian representative.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia is making preparations for the Istanbul talks, and will announce the members of the Russian delegation "as soon as the president deems it necessary." Asked about Zelensky's demand to meet with Putin, Peskov declined to make any comments.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich stated on the same day that Russia is willing to engage in negotiations with Ukraine in a serious and responsible manner. He said the upcoming talks in Istanbul would include discussions on addressing the root causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The U.S. government also announced on Tuesday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg will also be heading to Istanbul to join the possible talks. The U.S. Department of State described the negotiations as a "critical opportunity" for peace.
In Tuesday's interview with Fox News, Keith Kellogg stated that the U.S. believes it is important for both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions during the negotiations. He also revealed that as part of a potential resolution to the conflict, Washington is discussing deploying troops from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland to Ukrainian territory west of the Dnipro River.
Uncertainty over Russia, Ukraine peace talks as leaders' attendance remains in doubt
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
