Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid lingering differences

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Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid lingering differences

2025-05-16 11:59 Last Updated At：18:57

The Russia-Ukraine peace talks are expected to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, as the Russian delegation has expressed readiness to participate, while the Ukrainian side has not yet issued a statement regarding the timing of the negotiations.

The Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday to prepare for the negotiations. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation and senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, said on Thursday night that starting 10:00 on Friday, the Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian side, that should arrive for the meeting to begin the talks.

Medinsky said that his team has the necessary competencies to conduct negotiations and will focus on "finding possible solutions" and common ground through a constructive approach.

Speaking outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, Medinsky said that Russia views the fresh negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul as a "continuation" of the peace process disrupted in 2022, claiming that his team's objective is to secure a lasting peace by "addressing the underlying causes of the conflict."

Medinsky said he had met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday to present their position ahead of the talks.

Also on Thursday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to visit Istanbul in the near future.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a Ukrainian delegation would attend the peace talks in Istanbul, though he would not personally show up at the negotiating table.

Zelensky has concluded his visit to Türkiye and left for the Albanian capital.

The delegation will be led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, alongside professionals, including military and intelligence officers, Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is awaiting confirmation from both the U.S. government and the Russian side on the exact schedule for the talks, which are expected to take place either Thursday or Friday.

On top of that, Zelensky stressed that he is ready for discussions if an unconditional ceasefire will be discussed at the level of leaders.

Speaking to reporters separately after a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Türkiye's Antalya, Fidan said that both Russia and Ukraine have, in principle, expressed their willingness for a ceasefire. However, each has its own considerations: Ukraine favors an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, while Russia maintains that certain modalities must first be understood and agreed upon.

Fidan said the Ukraine-Russia negotiations have now reached a certain stage, urging both parties to make concessions and take steps towards establishing a common peace.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also attended the NATO meeting, said they support a negotiated settlement. "We will see what happens over the next couple of days in that regard, but we want to see progress," he said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris is pushing for an "urgent" and "unconditional" ceasefire.

According to a TASS report, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto expressed the hope for the success of the upcoming talks on resolving the Ukrainian conflict, urging the European Union not to undermine the negotiations.

The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine. Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face meeting with Putin.

The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt the fighting.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests

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.