Russia and Ukrainian negotiators met in Istanbul on Friday for the first time in more than three years in direct peace talks. This was under pressure from President Donald Trump since World War II to end Europe’s most deadly conflict, Reuters reported.
Live TV showed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressing Russian and Ukrainian negotiators at Boshors’s gorgeous Dolmabas Palace. Half of the Ukrainian delegation was sitting at a table facing Russian counterparts in suits, wearing camouflage forces fatigue.
Fidan said it is important to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible. He said he was pleased to see the will of both parties to open new windows of opportunity for peace, and that it is important for Istanbul to form the basis for a meeting between the leaders of both countries.
“There are two paths ahead of us. One road takes us into a process that leads to peace, and the other leads to more destruction and death.
Fighters have not seen face-to-face since March 2022, the month after the conflict began.