The Kremlin said its envoys had been briefed personally by Vladimir Putin before departure on the limits of their mandate. U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin both declined to attend.
Kyiv’s diplomatic blitz
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met separately in Antalya with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski to lock in Western backing and warn Russia of “costs” if it spurns the truce.
Sikorski told reporters Poland would supply an air-bridge and secure a logistics hub but would not send troops into Ukraine, countering suggestions by U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg that Polish forces might join an “E4” peacekeeping contingent west of the Dnipro River.
Modest Russian presence
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov would lead its delegation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow seeks a “long-term settlement,” but criticized EU deadlines for a ceasefire as “unacceptable ultimatums.”
Western diplomats noted the asymmetry of Zelensky attending in person while Putin stays away, calling it a test of Moscow’s sincerity.
“If Russia stonewalls, we will push for new sanctions,” a senior EU official said.
Agenda items
U.S. officials say the draft talks agenda covers:
- verification of a 30-day ceasefire,
- humanitarian corridors,
- security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant,
- a roadmap for broader peace negotiations, including Ukraine’s future security guarantees.
Analysts warn expectations should remain low given Russia’s demand that Kyiv renounce NATO membership and accept Moscow’s annexations.
Still, the Istanbul meeting is the first direct contact at this level since March 2022.
(jh)
Source: IAR, PAP, The Guardian, RBC-Ukraina