Russian and Ukrainian negotiators convened in Istanbul for their first face-to-face peace talks in over three years, amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to bring an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War.

Live footage showed Russian and Ukrainian representatives holding discussions alongside a Turkish delegation, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressing the participants at the start of the meeting.

The talks, held at the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, mark a rare diplomatic step forward between the two sides, who had not met directly since March 2022 — just a month after Russia’s invasion.

However, hopes for significant progress were dampened on Thursday when Trump indicated that no substantial movement could be expected without a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As he concluded a tour of the Middle East and prepared to return to Washington, Trump stated on Friday that he would meet the Russian leader “as soon as we can set it up”.

Outlining Kyiv’s priorities, the head of Ukraine’s delegation insisted that peace would only be achievable if Russia agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, the return of abducted Ukrainian children, and the exchange of all prisoners of war.

While Russia has expressed a desire to end the conflict through diplomatic means and shown willingness to discuss a ceasefire, it has also raised concerns, arguing that Ukraine could use the pause to rest its forces, mobilise additional troops, and acquire more Western weaponry.

Ukraine and its allies accuse President Putin of stalling, questioning his commitment to achieving peace. Although Putin proposed the direct talks in Turkey, he declined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s challenge to meet in person, opting instead to send a team of mid-level officials. Ukraine responded in kind by appointing negotiators of a similar rank.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, were also present in Istanbul, where a series of separate meetings took place earlier on Friday.

Speaking on Thursday night, Rubio expressed scepticism about the likelihood of a breakthrough, given the delegation levels involved. “I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m 100% wrong. I hope tomorrow the news says they’ve agreed to a ceasefire; they’ve agreed to enter serious negotiations. But I’m just giving you my assessment, honestly,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Russia announced that it had captured another village as part of its slow and grinding advance in eastern Ukraine. Just minutes before the Istanbul meeting began, Ukrainian media reported an air alert and explosions in the city of Dnipro.

Boluwatife Enome

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