Russian and Ukrainian negotiators gathered in Istanbul on Friday (16) for the first direct peace negotiations in more than three years of war, maintaining discussions along with a Turkish delegation, showed live images of Turkish television.
Turkey Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan gave a speech at the beginning of the meeting, seen as a sign of diplomatic progress between sides that have not been face to face since March 2022, the month following the invasion of Russia.
The meeting, held at Dolmabahçe Palace, was mediated by Fidan and was attended by US authorities, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg. The Ukrainian delegation is led by Defense Minister Rustem Umarov. On the Russian side, who headed the team is Vladimir Medinsky, former Minister of Culture-the same who led the Russian team in the failed 2022.
generated criticism in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Zelensky showed goodwill when traveling to Türkiye, while Putin “put himself on the wrong side.” France defends “devastating” sanctions against the Russian economy. Already US President Donald Trump, articulator of the new attempt to ceasefire, indicated that he will seek a direct meeting with Putin to unlock the process: “It’s time for us to do it,” he said in the UAE.
Putin, who rejects Zelensky’s legitimacy, wants to negotiate directly with Trump. European diplomats warn that this could reward Kremlin’s evasive stance if the summit occurs without prior concessions.
During the opening of the negotiations, Russia launched an attack with ballistic missiles near Dnipro, according to local authorities. Nevertheless, Ukraine maintains the requirement for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, as well as humanitarian actions such as the return of deported children and the total exchange of war prisoners, as Umarov said before the meeting.
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(com Reuters)
