Delegations of Russia and Ukraine Start Meeting in Istanbul
Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. X/ @kakabrasa
May 16, 2025 Hour: 7:50 am
‘Every day we lose means lost lives. There is a chance for a cease-fire alongside negotiations,’ said Turkish FM Fidan.
On Friday, Russia and Ukraine began their first direct meeting since 2022 in Istanbul, with Türkiye acting as mediator, in an attempt to seek a negotiated solution to the Ukrainian war.
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“We must move toward peace. Every day we lose means lost lives. There is a chance for a cease-fire alongside negotiations. There are two paths: one toward peace, the other toward destruction,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the start of the meeting at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Russian delegation is headed by Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinsky. The Ukrainian delegation also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.
Fidan began his speech by emphasizing the importance of Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin “having heeded the calls to negotiate” from U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“It is important that these talks lay the groundwork for a meeting between the leaders,” the Turkish minister said, wishing both delegations “success in the talks for peace.”
Even before this tripartite meeting, Istanbul hosted a marathon of discussions earlier in the day: first among Turkey, Ukraine and the United States, followed by a meeting between representatives from Washington and Moscow.
On Friday morning, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Türkiye from Antalya, where he had attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. He himself lowered expectations for the talks in Istanbul, saying on Thursday that he did not have “very high hopes.”
“Frankly, it’s clear that the only way to break the deadlock would be through a conversation between President Trump and President Putin. It would require engagement at that level,” he said from Antalya.
Putin decided not to participate, prompting Zelenskyy to leave Turkey and attend a high-level European political summit in Albania, which Erdogan also joined Friday.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – Xinhua
