{"id":107884,"date":"2025-05-17T02:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T02:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/107884\/"},"modified":"2025-05-17T02:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T02:29:11","slug":"russia-and-ukraine-to-hold-their-first-peace-talks-in-3-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/107884\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia and Ukraine to hold their first peace talks in 3 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

ISTANBUL (AP) \u2014 The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks<\/a> since the early weeks of Moscow\u2019s 2022 invasion<\/a> ended after less than two hours Friday, and while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting.<\/p>\n

One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back against such a truce, which remains elusive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe haven\u2019t received a Russian \u2018yes\u2019 on this basic point,\u201d Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhii said after the talks. \u201cIf you want to have serious negotiations, you have to have guns silenced.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Russian<\/p>\n

Russian presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, right, and other members of Russian delegation attend talks with Ukrainian delegation at the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey, Ton Friday, May 16, 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n

Russian presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, right, and other members of Russian delegation attend talks with Ukrainian delegation at the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey, Ton Friday, May 16, 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

But Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky pronounced himself \u201csatisfied with the outcome,\u201d adding that Moscow was ready to continue contacts. <\/p>\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland. In a post on X from a European leadership meeting in Albania<\/a>, he urged \u201ctough sanctions\u201d against Moscow if it rejects \u201ca full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such swap<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both sides also discussed a ceasefire and a meeting between their heads of state, according to chief Ukrainian delegate, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n AP AUDIO: Russia-Ukraine peace talks end after less than 2 hours\n <\/p>\n

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Russia and Ukraine are holding their first direct peace talks in three years.<\/p>\n

Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said both sides agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state meeting, which Russia took under consideration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pressure on the Russian Federation must continue,\u201d said Serhii Kyslytsia, Ukraine\u2019s first deputy foreign minister and part of Kyiv\u2019s delegation. \u201cWe should not really relax at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In this handout photo released by Turkish Foreign Ministry, from left, Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak arrive for a meeting at Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Turkish Foreign Ministry via AP)<\/p>\n

In this handout photo released by Turkish Foreign Ministry, from left, Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak arrive for a meeting at Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Turkish Foreign Ministry via AP)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

New, \u2018unacceptable conditions\u2019 <\/p>\n

During the talks, a senior Ukrainian official said Russia introduced new, \u201cunacceptable demands\u201d to withdraw Ukrainian forces from huge swaths of territory. The official, who was not authorized to make official statements, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The proposal had not been previously discussed, the official said.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian side reiterated it was focused on achieving real progress \u2014 an immediate ceasefire and a pathway to substantive diplomacy \u2014 \u201cjust like the U.S., European partners, and other countries proposed,\u201d the official added.<\/p>\n

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tykhii confirmed the Russian delegation \u201cvoiced a number of things that we deem unacceptable,\u201d but added: \u201cThis is something that Russians usually voice, and we were keeping to our line.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two sides sat opposite each other at a U-shaped table in the Dolmabahce Palace but remained far apart<\/a> in their conditions for ending the war. Trump, who has pressed for an end to the conflict, said he would meet with Putin<\/a> \u201cas soon as we can set it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s time for us to just do it,\u201d Trump told reporters in Abu Dhabi as he wrapped up a trip to the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks by urging participants \u201cto take advantage of this opportunity,\u201d adding it was \u201ccritically important that the ceasefire happens as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a social media post, Fidan called the POW swap as a \u201cconfidence-building measure\u201d and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again.<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy seeks European unity<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Ukraine's<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the 6th European Political Community summit Friday May 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania. (Leon Neal\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the 6th European Political Community summit Friday May 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania. (Leon Neal\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n

Read More<\/p>\n

Zelenskyy was in Tirana, Albania, with leaders of 47 European countries to discuss security, defense and democratic standards against the backdrop of the war. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.<\/p>\n

\u201cPressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war,\u201d Zelenskyy said on X, posting a photo of the leaders during the call, the second for the group since May 10.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters after the call with Trump, Starmer said the Russian position \u201cis clearly unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he didn\u2019t say what the Europeans\u2019 response might involve, some of them pressed for new sanctions, with the European Union likely to adopt new measures as soon as Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Macron said it was \u201cunacceptable that, for a second time, Russia hasn\u2019t responded to the demands made by the Americans, supported by Ukraine and the Europeans. No ceasefire, and therefore no meeting at a decision-making level. And no response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merz said diplomatic efforts so far \u201chave unfortunately failed because of Russia\u2019s lack of readiness to take the first steps in the right direction now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we will not give up,\u201d he added. All three said Kyiv and its allies in Europe will continue to coordinate their efforts.<\/p>\n

Diplomatic maneuvering<\/p>\n

Both countries engaged in diplomatic maneuvering this week as they tried to show Trump that they are eager to negotiate, although he expressed frustration with the slow progress and threatened to punish foot-dragging.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Putin spurned an offer by Zelenskyy<\/a> to meet face-to-face in Turkey. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of not making a serious effort to end the war by sending a low-level delegation.<\/p>\n

Ukraine has accepted a U.S. and European proposal for a full, 30-day ceasefire<\/a>, but Putin has effectively rejected it by imposing far-reaching conditions.<\/p>\n

Commenting on a possible Trump-Putin meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to indicate that momentum for such a summit is building. He told reporters that top-level talks were \u201ccertainly needed,\u201d but added that preparing a summit would take time. <\/p>\n

Fighting continues in Ukraine<\/p>\n

Russia, meanwhile, is preparing a fresh military offensive<\/a>, Ukrainian government and Western military analysts say.<\/p>\n

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov was in Minsk to discuss joint military drills in September<\/a> and deliveries of new weapons to Belarus. Zelenskyy has warned that the military buildup in Belarus, which borders NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, could serve as a cover for future attacks.<\/p>\n

A Friday drone attack on the northeastern city of Kupiansk killed a 55-year-old woman and wounded four men, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration..<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s invasion has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, the U.N. says, and razed towns and villages. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have died, and likely a larger number of Russian troops, officials and analysts say.<\/p>\n

One Ukrainian soldier told AP he wasn\u2019t hopeful about the talks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they will agree on anything concrete, because summer is the best time for war,\u201d said the soldier, who used the call sign \u201cCorsair\u201d in accordance with Ukrainian military rules. \u201cThe enemy is trying to constantly escalate the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

But he said many of his comrades \u201cbelieve that by the end of the year there will be peace, albeit an unstable one, but peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the talks, Ukrainian officials met with national security advisers from the U.S., France, Germany and the U.K. to coordinate positions, the senior Ukrainian official told AP. The U.S. team was led by retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump\u2019s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, while Umerov and presidential office chief Andriy Yermak represented Ukraine, the official said.<\/p>\n

A three-way meeting between Turkey, the U.S. and Ukraine also took place, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said. The U.S. side included Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as Kellogg.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Rubio said he believed a breakthrough was only possible is a meeting between Trump and Putin.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Follow AP\u2019s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/russia-ukraine<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ISTANBUL (AP) \u2014 The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow\u2019s 2022 invasion ended…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107885,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7655],"tags":[10541,47779,24605,7667,32,5898,34,1945,4179,45136,8614,807,9204,2820,770,13291,285,19746,332,7659,7661,657,7662,49,5213,47780,333,2601,263],"class_list":{"0":"post-107884","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-russia","8":"tag-albania","9":"tag-andrei-belousov","10":"tag-andriy-yermak","11":"tag-dmitry-peskov","12":"tag-donald-trump","13":"tag-donald-tusk","14":"tag-emmanuel-macron","15":"tag-friedrich-merz","16":"tag-general-news","17":"tag-hakan-fidan","18":"tag-international-agreements","19":"tag-keir-starmer","20":"tag-keith-kellogg","21":"tag-marco-rubio","22":"tag-poland","23":"tag-poland-government","24":"tag-politics","25":"tag-prisoner-exchange","26":"tag-russia","27":"tag-russia-government","28":"tag-russia-ukraine-war","29":"tag-ukraine","30":"tag-ukraine-government","31":"tag-united-states","32":"tag-united-states-government","33":"tag-vladimir-medinsky","34":"tag-vladimir-putin","35":"tag-volodymyr-zelenskyy","36":"tag-world-news"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107884\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}