Russia-Ukraine to meet in Istanbul for talks to end war

By  News On Air   May 14, 2025

Ukraine and Russia are close to reviving direct peace talks for the first time since the last face-to-face discussions ended three years ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to meet at Istanbul in Türkiye tomorrow for talks on ending the war, after Moscow proposed staging direct negotiations.

Talking to reporters today, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul tomorrow.

However, the Kremlin has declined to say who would be part of its delegation, and if President Putin will attend the meeting. Mr Peskov said, the names of the officials representing Moscow will be announced later.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send his senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to Türkiye to attend the potential talks between Moscow and Kiev.

In a late-night address on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed talks between the two countries hours after Ukraine and European countries urged Moscow to agree to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire.