**US Diplomat Says Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Face Hurdles**
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio has expressed skepticism about the chances of a breakthrough in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, set to take place in Turkey. In a meeting with NATO foreign ministers, Rubio said that significant progress was unlikely until US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met directly on the issue.
“I don’t think we’re going to have a breakthrough here until President Trump and President Putin interact directly on this topic,” Rubio stated. This view is shared by Trump himself, who told the BBC that “nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” The US president emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict but suggested that progress was unlikely without direct talks between him and Putin.
**Zelensky Criticizes Russian Delegation**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed frustration with the “low-level” delegation being sent by Russia to the peace talks. He criticized Moscow’s decision not to send a senior representative, calling it an act of disrespect towards Trump and Turkish President Erdogan.
Zelensky reiterated his challenge to Putin to meet him personally, saying that no time for the meeting had been set as of Thursday evening. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and includes representatives from Ukraine’s intelligence, military general staff, and foreign ministry.
**Russian View on Talks**
Russia sees the talks as a continuation of failed negotiations in 2022, according to presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky. He emphasized that Russia wants to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and establish long-term peace. However, the terms under discussion include demands for Ukraine to become a neutral country, cut its military size, and abandon NATO membership ambitions – conditions that Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.
**Fighting Continues in Ukraine**
Despite the efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, fighting continues in Ukraine, with Russia claiming to have captured two more villages in the eastern Donetsk region on Thursday. Moscow now controls approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula it annexed illegally in 2014.
UK Defence Minister John Healey called for increased pressure on Putin and further sanctions against Russia “to bring him to the negotiating table.” The situation remains complex, with many countries urging both sides to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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