Russia has reportedly made “unacceptable” demands that could sabotage any progress after the much-anticipated peace talks between Ukraine and Russia ended in Istanbul on Friday.
A source told AFP that Russian negotiators asked Ukraine to pull back from large areas of its territory, still under Kyiv’s control, as a condition for a ceasefire. “These demands are not just unrealistic — they’re meant to block the talks,” the source said.
Ukraine’s team was led by defence minister Rustem Umerov. Russia sent a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to president Putin. Ukrainian officials say they had hoped for a higher-level meeting with Ukraine's president Zelenskyy, criticising the Russian team as a “theatre prop” and questioning their seriousness.
Zelenskyy said he was still committed to peace and had sent his defence minister to Istanbul to show good faith, especially to Trump. The US president also said on Friday that a meeting with Putin could happen “as soon as we can set it up.”
Turkish foreign ministry officials confirmed that a three-way meeting was also held between Turkey, the United States, and Ukraine. The US delegation included secretary of state Marco Rubio and Keith Kellogg.
After the meeting, Zelenskyy flew to Albania to attend a meeting of the leaders of 47 European countries to discuss security, defence, and democratic standards against the backdrop of the war.
Meanwhile, the war continues. A drone strike on Friday morning killed a 55-year-old woman and injured four others in the city of Kupiansk. All victims were municipal workers, according to regional officials.
A source told AFP that Russian negotiators asked Ukraine to pull back from large areas of its territory, still under Kyiv’s control, as a condition for a ceasefire. “These demands are not just unrealistic — they’re meant to block the talks,” the source said.
Ukraine’s team was led by defence minister Rustem Umerov. Russia sent a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to president Putin. Ukrainian officials say they had hoped for a higher-level meeting with Ukraine's president Zelenskyy, criticising the Russian team as a “theatre prop” and questioning their seriousness.
Zelenskyy said he was still committed to peace and had sent his defence minister to Istanbul to show good faith, especially to Trump. The US president also said on Friday that a meeting with Putin could happen “as soon as we can set it up.”
Turkish foreign ministry officials confirmed that a three-way meeting was also held between Turkey, the United States, and Ukraine. The US delegation included secretary of state Marco Rubio and Keith Kellogg.
After the meeting, Zelenskyy flew to Albania to attend a meeting of the leaders of 47 European countries to discuss security, defence, and democratic standards against the backdrop of the war.
Meanwhile, the war continues. A drone strike on Friday morning killed a 55-year-old woman and injured four others in the city of Kupiansk. All victims were municipal workers, according to regional officials.
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