No breakthrough seen as Russia-Ukraine conclude peace talks in Istanbul

The direct talks between Russia and Ukraine concluded in under two hours, with no immediate signs of progress toward resolving the ongoing conflict.

According to a Ukrainian source speaking to Reuters, the discussions revealed a deep divide between the two sides. The source described Russia's demands as “detached from reality” and “non-constructive,” saying they went far beyond what had previously been discussed.

They included "non-starters and non-constructive conditions," the source said on condition of anonymity.

There has been no official statement from the Russian delegation following the meeting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier emphasised that Kyiv’s top priority remains securing “a full, unconditional and honest ceasefire… to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy.” He warned that if Russia continues to reject peace efforts, it should face tougher international sanctions, particularly targeting its energy sector and banking system.

16:33

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia held in Istanbul have concluded, marking the first face-to-face negotiations between the two countries since early 2022.

Turkish foreign ministry confirmed the conclusion of the talks on May 16. However, hopes for progress appear dim, with a Ukrainian diplomatic source telling Reuters that Russia’s demands during the discussions were "unrealistic" and exceeded the scope of any previous negotiations, The Guardian writes.

No further details have yet been released regarding the specific proposals made by either side.

14:51

Russian and Ukrainian delegations have kicked off the meeting in Istanbul on May 16 for their first direct peace talks since 2022. 

The talks, facilitated by Türkiye, come after more than two years of stalled diplomacy and intensifying conflict.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is quoted by Reuters as opening the meeting by saying he was happy to see that the will of the two sides had opened up a new window of opportunity for peace.

“There are two paths today: One leads to peace, and the other will cause more destruction and loss of life. Both sides will choose which path to take,” Fidan told the negotiating teams.

Fidan underscored the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and laying the groundwork for a potential meeting between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. He stressed that establishing a truce is critical to advancing toward a durable resolution.

“Hosting both sides shows our strong will to end the war,” he said. “We have an opportunity to end the war … in order to take the path of peace we need to take advantage of this opportunity. Every day causes more lives to be lost. While this war is claiming lives, it is critically important that a ceasefire happens as soon as possible.”

A reminder that Vladimir Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky is leading for Russia, while Ukraine’s defence minister Rustem Umerov leads for Ukraine.

14:15

Ukraine is ready to enter direct negotiations at the highest level, and for full and unconditional ceasefire, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said. 

In a statement shared ahead of a planned meeting with the Russian delegation, Umerov emphasised Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a sustainable and just peace. 

“We are ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as we previously stated during meetings in Jeddah and Riyadh with our American partners. Ukraine is prepared for direct negotiations at the highest level. Today we came to Istanbul to find real paths to a sustainable and just peace,” he said. 

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, met with key representatives from Western allies. Among those in attendance were Keith Kellogg, the US President’s Special Representative; Jonathan Powell, the UK Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser; Gunter Sautter, Foreign and Security Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor; and Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Adviser to the French President.

Umerov said the meeting aimed to coordinate positions with Western partners in advance of discussions with Russia. He underlined the conditions necessary for meaningful progress, calling on Moscow to demonstrate readiness through “concrete actions” — including a 30-day ceasefire and humanitarian measures such as the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children and prisoner exchanges under the “all for all” formula.

Ukraine thanked its allies for their continued support and expressed gratitude to Türkiye for facilitating the Istanbul meeting and providing a platform for dialogue.

“We continue our fight for a just and lasting peace — and we will not cease our efforts to achieve it,” Umerov said, as hopes for diplomatic momentum cautiously rise.

Meanwhile, Russian media reports, that the start time of the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul has not yet been set.

13:29

A high-level meeting involving senior representatives from Türkiye, the United States, and Ukraine concluded on May 16 in Istanbul, amid mounting international interest in renewed diplomatic engagement over the war in Ukraine.

The closed-door talks, which lasted just over an hour, were held at the presidential office in Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources told TASS.

The Ukrainian delegation included Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. Representing the United States were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, and Presidential Special Envoy Keith Kellogg. On behalf of the host country, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated in the meeting.

The discussions took place as Ukraine signals a cautious interest in reopening channels with Russia. According to Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter, the Ukrainian delegation intends to raise the issue of a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin during upcoming negotiations with Russia, also expected to be held in Istanbul.

No concrete details have emerged regarding the timing, format, or preconditions for such a high-level encounter.

The idea of a face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin has surfaced multiple times over the course of the war but has never materialized due to deep divisions over terms and the ongoing conflict. Nonetheless, international observers are closely watching the current talks, viewing them as one of the few remaining avenues for direct engagement between Kyiv and Moscow.

Türkiye, which has maintained dialogue with both sides since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, continues to position itself as a potential mediator.

12:37

A trilateral meeting between the delegations of Ukraine, Türkiye, and the United States under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has kicked off in Istanbul. 

The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, includes President Donald Trump's Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellog and Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

The Ukrainian delegation, headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, includes the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha. 

At 12:30 local time [13:30 GMT+4], a trilateral meeting between the delegations of Russia, Ukraine, and Türkiye is expected to take place.

However, Russian media has reported that Russian and Ukrainian delegations are scheduled to hold direct talks in Istanbul on May 16. 

"Russia-Ukraine direct talks are scheduled in Istanbul on May 16, Türkiye’s representative should leave the negotiating room after the greeting," the source said.

Rubio also said the US delegation would take part in the Russia–Ukraine negotiations. However, the Russian delegation opposes presence of US representatives at Russia-Ukraine direct talks, source says. 

Follow this link to view all previous updates leading up to this development.

By Sabina Mammadli