Russia and Ukraine have resumed peace talks in Istanbul, aiming to end a war now in its fourth year. The negotiations come amid mounting international pressure, including a 50-day ultimatum from U.S. President Donald Trump for Russia to end hostilities or face new sanctions. Despite the high stakes, the Kremlin has warned against expecting quick results.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks by calling for an urgent ceasefire. “Our aim is to end this bloody war as soon as possible,” he said, urging both sides to move toward lasting peace. The last two meetings, held in May and June, led only to prisoner and body exchanges.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the road ahead would be “very difficult,” and Ukraine echoed that concern. Kyiv hopes the talks will lead to more prisoner releases and open the door for a long-awaited meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Ukrainian officials stress that Russia must stop issuing ultimatums and take a more constructive approach.
The core issue remains unchanged: Russia insists Ukraine retreat from four regions it claimed to annex in 2022—terms Kyiv has rejected outright. Ukraine refuses to negotiate on territorial concessions before a ceasefire and says it will never recognize Russian control of occupied lands, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.
Russia’s delegation is once again led by political aide Vladimir Medinsky, a figure Ukraine dismisses as a Kremlin mouthpiece. Ukraine’s team is led by former defense minister and current national security chief Rustem Umerov. The outcome of this latest round could signal whether there’s any real path to ending one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts in decades.