The first direct meeting of Russian and Ukrainian delegations in more than two years was held in Istanbul, but the talks ended without any sign of progress.
The first round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday and lasted less than two hours.
According to Reuters, the talks ended without tangible results, and a Ukrainian source described Moscow’s demands as “unacceptable.”
While the official position of the Russian delegation has not yet been published, the Ukrainian official has announced that Russia’s demands have gone beyond previous ones. The Ukrainian president had previously emphasized the need for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and warned that if Moscow does not cooperate, more severe sanctions should be imposed.
In contrast, Russia has said that it supports a diplomatic solution, but is concerned about Ukraine’s military use of the ceasefire opportunity.
These negotiations took place in a context where expectations for progress were already low.
