Ukraine on Monday expressed readiness to take “necessary steps for peace” as it resumed high-level talks with Russia in Istanbul, marking a fresh attempt to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
The negotiations, held at the historic Ciragan Palace and mediated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, followed a recent Ukrainian airstrike on Russian airbases that reportedly damaged 40 strategic bombers, Kyiv’s most daring operation on Russian soil to date.
This second round of peace talks came amid persistent international pressure, particularly from United States President Donald Trump, who has urged direct dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow. Despite earlier efforts yielding only a major prisoner swap, both sides remain far apart on key issues.
“We are ready to take the necessary steps for peace,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a NATO summit in Vilnius ahead of the talks.
He called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the return of children taken from Ukraine.
Russia, for its part, is expected to present a peace “memorandum,” although it has yet to reveal its terms publicly.
A Ukrainian source involved in the negotiations urged Moscow to abandon its hardline stance and demonstrate flexibility.
“If they are ready to move forward, not just repeat the same previous ultimatums, then there may be good and big news today,” the source told AFP.
Moscow insists on addressing the “root causes” of the conflict a term widely understood to include limiting Ukraine’s military capacity, preventing NATO membership, and demanding territorial concessions.
Kyiv and its Western allies view such demands as imperialist and unacceptable.
The Kremlin continues to resist direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Putin’s aides questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy and calling for regime change in Ukraine.
Russia’s delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a close Putin ally who previously led failed negotiations and has espoused controversial views questioning Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukraine’s team is headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who is seen as pragmatic but is currently facing domestic scrutiny over alleged misconduct.
Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian officials met with counterparts from the UK, Germany, and Italy.
Kyiv continues to seek concrete Western security guarantees, such as NATO-style protections, which Moscow firmly opposes.
Despite battlefield losses and Russian advances, especially in Ukraine’s Sumy region, Kyiv has signaled openness to reclaiming some occupied territory through diplomacy rather than military means.
