**Ukraine and Russia Launch Peace Talks in Istanbul**
For the first time since 2022, Ukrainian and Russian delegates have started peace talks in Istanbul. This significant development marks a new chapter in efforts to bring an end to the conflict between the two countries.
On May 16, the Turkish representatives hosting the meeting delivered a welcoming speech before leaving the venue. The Ukrainian delegation plans to discuss a ceasefire deal and a potential future meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, tensions ran high as Kyiv accused Moscow of undermining the negotiations by requesting a separate meeting without Turkish or U.S. officials present.
The discussions follow talks earlier in the day between Turkish, U.S., and Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian delegation expressed their readiness for a complete and unconditional ceasefire, as well as concrete actions from Russia to achieve peace.
**A Sham Delegation?**
Kyiv’s President Office chief, Andriy Yermak, took to social media to express his skepticism about the Russian delegation, stating that “The Russians want to build associations with 2022. But all that is similar is the city of Istanbul. And nothing else.” He further emphasized that Moscow’s attempts to link the current talks to those in 2022 would not work.
In contrast, Russia presented the meeting as a continuation of the 2022 talks and stressed the need to address what it says are the war’s “root causes,” including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and language laws. However, Kyiv and its allies have urged Moscow to adopt an unconditional ceasefire starting May 12 as the first step toward peace talks.
**A Lowered Expectation**
U.S. President Donald Trump initially expressed optimism about the meeting’s prospects but later downplayed expectations, saying that progress is unlikely before he meets Putin. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also noted that the level of the Russian delegation is “not indicative of one that’s going to lead to a major breakthrough.”
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