Russia and Ukraine to hold peace talks in Istanbul after three years

New Delhi: Russia and Ukraine are set to meet in Istanbul on Friday for Turkey-brokered peace talks, marking their first direct negotiations in over three years. However, officials and observers have cautioned against expecting any immediate breakthrough to end the prolonged conflict.

The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustam Umarov, while Russia will be represented by a lower-level team headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Hopes for meaningful progress dimmed further on Thursday when Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting.

The two sides have also assembled uneven diplomatic-level teams and are reportedly considering different cities in Turkey for the discussions.