Russian and Ukrainian officials are set to meet on Monday in Istanbul to exchange proposals aimed at ending the war that has raged for over three years, marking Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.
The high-stakes diplomatic effort comes a day after Ukraine claimed responsibility for one of its most successful attacks to date — striking dozens of Russian strategic bombers at airbases deep within Russian territory, far from the front lines.
Prompted by renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, the direct negotiations represent the most serious talks between Moscow and Kyiv since the early weeks of the invasion. However, both sides remain far apart on any agreement, whether for an immediate ceasefire or a long-term peace settlement.
Monday’s talks, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. local time (1000 GMT), will be held at the historic Çırağan Palace, now a five-star hotel overlooking the Bosphorus. Russia’s delegation arrived in Istanbul on Sunday evening, while the Ukrainian team landed Monday morning.
Moscow plans to present a formal “memorandum” outlining its peace demands but has resisted earlier Ukrainian calls to submit its terms ahead of the meeting.
Despite recent diplomatic movement, major obstacles remain. Ukraine continues to demand a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of all prisoners, and the return of abducted children, according to a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.
Zelensky also renewed his call for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that “the key issues can only be resolved by the leaders.” The Kremlin has dismissed the proposal, insisting that such a summit could only follow tangible progress at the delegation level.
Russia’s negotiating team is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior aide to Putin known for his ideological views and involvement in failed 2022 negotiations. Medinsky has authored textbooks defending the invasion and has previously questioned Ukraine’s legitimacy as a sovereign nation.
Ukraine is represented by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, regarded as a capable negotiator, though currently facing scrutiny over allegations of abuse of office and lack of transparency.
Diplomatic advisors from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are expected to be present in Istanbul, working closely with the Ukrainian delegation to support the talks, according to a German government spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for a daring special operation on Sunday, reportedly damaging some 40 Russian strategic bombers worth an estimated $7 billion. The long-planned strike allegedly involved drones smuggled into Russia and launched from locations near targeted airbases.
On the battlefield, Russian forces have advanced further into Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, with President Putin instructing troops to establish a “buffer zone” along the border.
As talks begin, Russian officials have reiterated demands that include cutting off Ukraine from Western military aid, restricting its ability to join NATO, and ceding parts of its remaining territory — conditions Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected as unacceptable.
Kyiv has acknowledged that some occupied territory may only be recovered through diplomatic means rather than military action. Ukrainian officials are also calling for robust, Western-backed security guarantees, including possible NATO protections or foreign troop deployments — proposals Moscow flatly opposes.
With tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, and vast areas of eastern and southern Ukraine devastated, the stakes for a diplomatic breakthrough could not be higher. While the road to peace remains uncertain, Monday’s talks are seen as a crucial step in determining whether a viable settlement can be reached — or whether the war will enter an even more destructive phase.
