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

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.

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

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

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

Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.

As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.

It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.

"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.

The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.

"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.

With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.

"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.

For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.

"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.

Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues