In a last-minute shift, Russia demanded a bilateral meeting in Istanbul, excluding Turkey and the U.S., derailing expectations for broader peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. This move, viewed by Kyiv and the West as insincere, saw Russia send a delegation lacking top officials, despite President Zelensky’s invitation to President Putin. While a Ukrainian delegation, including key ministers, arrived in Istanbul, Moscow framed the meeting as a continuation of previous negotiations focused on addressing the conflict’s underlying causes, rather than an unconditional ceasefire as Ukraine had proposed. The talks come after a period of relative inactivity in direct negotiations.
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Despite President Zelensky’s invitation, President Trump will not attend the May 15th Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul; however, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will represent the U.S. Russia’s delegation, lacking top-level political figures like Foreign Minister Lavrov, will be led by Vladimir Medinsky. The absence of both Presidents Trump and Putin from the talks is noteworthy, given Zelensky’s previous call for their participation. Trump has previously indicated potential for further sanctions against Russia should the talks fail to produce a peace agreement.
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President Zelensky extended an invitation to President Putin for direct peace talks in Turkey on May 15, a meeting that would mark the first such engagement since 2022. While Ukraine remains prepared to discuss all options, contingent upon a ceasefire, a failure by Putin to attend would strongly indicate Russia’s unwillingness to pursue peace. Ukraine’s readiness for negotiations contrasts sharply with Russia’s continued attacks despite international calls for an unconditional ceasefire. The absence of a response from the Kremlin regarding Putin’s participation leaves the prospect of peace talks uncertain.
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Following a Paris meeting with European leaders to discuss a potential Ukraine-Russia peace deal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning. He stated that the U.S. may cease peace negotiations within days if a viable agreement isn’t reached, emphasizing that the conflict is not America’s war to begin with. This announcement contrasts with President Trump’s optimism regarding a ceasefire, and comes amidst the signing of a separate economic agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine concerning mineral reserves and reconstruction funding. Despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, the U.S. is prepared to end its involvement in peace talks should progress prove impossible.
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Despite US assurances of Ukrainian involvement, a senior Ukrainian source confirms Kyiv received no invitation to US-Russia peace talks scheduled for Saudi Arabia. These talks, involving US envoys and potentially leading to further meetings, proceed without European participation, prompting a separate European summit in Paris. President Zelensky has firmly rejected any peace deal excluding Ukraine. Conflicting statements from US officials regarding Ukrainian involvement and the overall peace process have created uncertainty and concern.
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John Q. Hosedrinker