Zelenskyy: Peace Effort Continues, But Russia ‘Not Serious Enough’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dispatched a high-level Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul for renewed peace talks with Russia, marking the first direct negotiations between the warring nations since March 2022. The talks, hosted at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace, are set to begin Friday—yet hopes for a breakthrough remain slim amid skepticism from both Washington and Moscow.

Speaking in Ankara after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was committed to a diplomatic resolution despite Russia sending a lower-level delegation. “Unfortunately, [the Russians] are not serious enough about the negotiations,” he stated. “Out of respect for President Trump and Erdoğan, I have decided to send our delegation to Istanbul now.”

The Ukrainian team will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and is expected to push for an immediate 30-day ceasefire.

However, the talks got off to a shaky start Thursday, as the Ukrainian and Russian delegations landed in different cities, hundreds of miles apart—raising questions about whether a direct meeting would even occur.

Complicating the situation further is the looming presence of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected in Istanbul, though their role remains unclear. Both Trump and the Kremlin have dismissed the likelihood of progress without a direct Trump-Putin summit. “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump told reporters.

Kremlin officials confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attend the talks, rejecting Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting. Meanwhile, Rubio echoed Trump’s stance, stating Thursday that “the only way we’re going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin.”

With Trump reportedly considering travel to Turkey “if something happens” at the talks, Kyiv and its allies remain wary of Washington’s shifting tone. The absence of firm U.S. pressure on Moscow has led to fears that Russia lacks real incentive to negotiate in good faith.

Despite the uncertain prospects, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s desire to be seen as the constructive party: “The most important thing for Ukraine is to remain constructive and reasonable… so that no one can claim Ukraine is responsible for derailing the talks.”