A Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday for the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in over three years, according to Russian state media. However, President Vladimir Putin was not among the delegates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had challenged Putin to attend the talks in person. Instead, Zelensky planned to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara before deciding on his approach to the Istanbul talks, according to a Ukrainian official.

Journalists gathered at Dolmabahce Palace, the rumored location for the talks. As of Thursday, no time had been set for the meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source. US President Donald Trump, advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict, suggested he might attend the talks and had urged Putin to participate. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to travel to Istanbul on Friday for meetings with European counterparts to discuss the conflict and other regional issues.

Trump indicated he could still travel to Turkiye if progress was made in the peace talks. Zelensky had been adamant about Putin's presence, stating that negotiations should be with him directly, as it is "his war." Despite diplomatic efforts, Moscow and Kyiv's positions remain distant, with little indication of either side being willing to compromise. Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister, is leading the Russian delegation. Ukraine has not yet named its delegation, but Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was in Turkiye meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Antalya. Putin held a briefing with his negotiating team and top foreign policy and defense officials in Moscow before their departure for Istanbul, the Kremlin stated.