On Friday in Istanbul, delegations from the United States, Ukraine and host nation Türkiye converged at the historic Dolmabahçe Presidential Office for their first trilateral meeting ahead of the upcoming Russia-Ukraine peace talks. This landmark gathering signals a renewed push to break the diplomatic deadlock.
The U.S. team was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and included Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack and Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. Representing Ukraine were Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office; Defense Minister Rustem Umerov; and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chaired the closed-door session, joined by Ibrahim Kalin, director of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization.
Officials released a single photo of the meeting, offering a rare glimpse into the high-stakes dialogue. Following this trilateral session, Türkiye will host a separate meeting with delegations from Russia, led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky, alongside Ukraine and Türkiye.
This marks the first direct engagement between Ukrainian and Russian officials since their March 2022 discussions in Istanbul, which ended without a ceasefire. Analysts say bridging 14 months of stalled talks will require fresh diplomacy, creative compromises and sustained international pressure.
With millions watching online and on the ground, the Istanbul talks could reshape the trajectory of one of the world’s most protracted conflicts. As the clock ticks toward broader negotiations, global citizens, business leaders and changemakers will be following every development for signs of real progress.
What comes next? Delegates are expected to outline concrete steps on humanitarian corridors, territorial security and political guarantees. The world will soon see whether this trilateral spark can ignite a lasting peace process.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
