Ukraine, Russia meet in Istanbul: New round of talks begins; ‘It will be very difficult,’ says Kremlin

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday for a fresh round of peace talks, officials confirmed, though both sides signaled low expectations for any breakthrough after more than three years of conflict.Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tykhy confirmed Kyiv’s delegation had reached Istanbul, while Russian state media reported the arrival of Moscow's negotiators earlier in the day.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned against high hopes, saying, “No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult.”The meeting marks the first direct engagement between the two sides since previous rounds in Istanbul in May and June, which led only to agreements on prisoner and body exchanges.Ukraine said its delegation, led by Security Council Secretary and former defence minister Rustem Umerov, initially held talks with Turkish officials in Ankara. The country hopes to address the release of prisoners and possibly prepare the ground for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.“Everything will depend on whether Russia stops speaking in ultimatums and takes a constructive position,” a Ukrainian delegation source told AFP.

The Kremlin’s team is headed by political aide and negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, who led past rounds of talks. Kyiv has previously described him as lacking authority in decision-making.Core disagreements remain unchanged. Russia insists Ukraine withdraw from four regions it claims to have annexed in 2022, conditions Kyiv has rejected outright. Ukraine maintains that no territorial concessions will be discussed until a ceasefire is in place.Meanwhile, the conflict continues on the ground. Russia claimed on Wednesday to have captured the village of Varachyne in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 71 drones at multiple regions between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.The talks also follow US President Donald Trump’s statement last week, giving Russia a “50-day” deadline to end the war or face new sanctions. So far, the Kremlin has shown no sign of altering its stance.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged both parties to keep dialogue open.