Peace Talks: A Long Shot for Russia and Ukraine

The first face-to-face peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in three years wrapped up quickly. They lasted less than two hours. The talks happened in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first direct conversation since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Ukrainian side had high hopes. They wanted to push for an immediate ceasefire and a path to serious talks. However, Russia had other plans. They brought new demands to the table. These demands were to pull Ukrainian forces out of large areas of land. This caught Ukraine off guard. These demands had not been discussed before. The talks did not go as planned. The two sides sat at a U-shaped table, but their conditions for ending the war were worlds apart. The Turkish Foreign Minister urged both sides to make the most of this chance for peace. He stressed the importance of a quick ceasefire. Both countries tried to show they were eager to negotiate. This was likely to impress the U. S. President. He has been pushing for an end to the conflict. However, he has been frustrated by the slow progress. He even threatened to punish any delays. Meanwhile, the fighting continues. Russian forces are preparing for a new offensive. A drone attack in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk killed one woman and injured four men. The invasion has been devastating. It has killed more than 12, 000 Ukrainian civilians and destroyed many towns and villages. Tens of thousands of soldiers have died on both sides. Before the talks, Ukrainian officials met with advisors from the U. S. , France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. They coordinated their positions. The U. S. team was led by a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. A three-way meeting between Turkey, the U. S. , and Ukraine also took place. The U. S. side included the Secretary of State and the special envoy. The Ukrainian President was in Albania. He was meeting with leaders of 47 European countries. They discussed security, defense, and democratic standards. He hoped for at least some progress from the talks. He wanted a ceasefire to be the first step. If not, it would show that Russia is not serious about diplomacy.