Ukraine and Russia peace talks last less than 2 hours, officials confirm

The first face-to-face peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on Friday, May 16, 2025, reportedly lasted less than two hours.

This information was disclosed by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and a senior Ukrainian official.

This is the first meeting between both countries since the initial phase of Russia’s 2022 invasion.

These discussions, held in Istanbul, reportedly failed to produce any significant breakthroughs, as both sides remained entrenched in their positions.

A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, reported that Russia had introduced new and unacceptable demands during the meeting.

The demands included a requirement for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from vast territories currently under their control.

These demands, the official stated, had not been discussed in previous negotiations and were seen as a step backward.

Despite this, Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to achieving meaningful progress, including an immediate ceasefire and a viable diplomatic process.

This is supposedly in line with proposals from the United States, European nations, and other allies.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting’s end and noted that the two delegations sat at a U-shaped table.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, faced a lower-level Russian team headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the session by urging both parties to seize the opportunity for dialogue, stressing the urgency of establishing a ceasefire.

The talks were overshadowed by broader diplomatic maneuvering.

Both Kyiv and Moscow appeared to be positioning themselves to show former U.S. President Donald Trump their willingness to engage in negotiations.

Trump, speaking from Abu Dhabi during a Middle East tour, emphasized the need for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said, “I think it’s time for us to just do it,” and that such a summit would be arranged “as soon as we can set it up.”

However, diplomatic tensions were evident.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer for a direct meeting in Turkey.

Zelenskyy criticized Moscow’s decision to send a low-ranking delegation, interpreting it as a sign that Russia was not genuinely committed to peace efforts.

Meanwhile, Ukraine had agreed to a U.S.- and EU-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

Russia, however, dismissed it, tying acceptance to broad and stringent conditions.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that top-level talks were necessary, indicating potential momentum toward a Trump-Putin summit.

However, he cautioned that organizing such a high-stakes meeting would require time and thorough preparation.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued.

On Friday morning, a Russian drone strike on Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine killed a 55-year-old woman and injured four municipal workers.

This is according to regional official Oleh Syniehubov.

The conflict has already claimed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilian lives, according to the United Nations.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have also died, with experts suggesting that Russian military casualties could be even higher.

Entire towns and villages across Ukraine have been decimated.

On the front lines, skepticism about the talks was palpable.

A Ukrainian soldier, using the call sign “Corsair,” expressed doubt that the discussions would yield tangible results.

“Summer is the best time for war,” he said, pointing to escalating Russian aggression.

Still, he noted that many soldiers hoped peace, albeit fragile, might come by year’s end.

Before the Istanbul talks, Ukraine held high-level consultations with national security advisers from the U.S., France, Germany, and the U.K.

These pre-meeting discussions were part of a coordinated effort to present a united front.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, serving as Trump’s special envoy, led the U.S. delegation, while Ukraine was represented by Umerov and Andriy Yermak, the head of the president’s office.

Additionally, a trilateral meeting involving Turkey, the U.S., and Ukraine occurred, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio participating.

Rubio expressed low expectations for the talks’ outcomes, emphasizing that a real breakthrough would only be possible through a direct Trump-Putin meeting.

While the talks were taking place, Zelenskyy was in Albania for a summit with 47 European leaders.

He was said to be discussing at the summit, regional security, defense, and democracy in light of the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy underscored the importance of at least agreeing to a ceasefire in Istanbul.

“If Russian representatives cannot even agree to that… it will be 100% clear that Putin continues to undermine diplomacy,” he said.

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