The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 are scheduled to commence on Thursday, May 15th.
A Russian delegation landed in Istanbul, Turkey on Thursday but without President Vladimir Putin despite many world leaders urging him to engage in direct talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he could travel to Turkey on Friday if the peace talks make progress.
However, his Secretary of State Marco Rubio will definitely be in Istanbul tomorrow “for meetings with European counterparts to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and other regional issues of mutual concern.”
Despite the two warring countries’ completely disagreeing on the conditions of ending the war, the negotiations themselves can be considered as a small victory for Trump who has been striving to bring an end to the conflict since his return to the White House in January.
Russia wants Ukraine to cede territory occupied by Russian troops and pull out of some areas still under Ukraine’s control.
Kyiv is calling for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, and says it will not recognise any of its territories as Russian. But Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine might only get them back through diplomatic means.
