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| Russian and Ukrainian negotiators comment on Istanbul talks: As it happened | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The meeting between the delegations from Moscow and Kiev lasted for less than two hours | The meeting between the delegations from Moscow and Kiev lasted for less than two hours |
| The first direct talks between Moscow and Kiev in over three years have reportedly concluded at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. | The first direct talks between Moscow and Kiev in over three years have reportedly concluded at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. |
| The peace talks were initially planned to take place on Thursday. However, Vladimir Zelensky only named a Ukrainian delegation that evening, having spoken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. | The peace talks were initially planned to take place on Thursday. However, Vladimir Zelensky only named a Ukrainian delegation that evening, having spoken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. |
| Kiev’s representatives eventually arrived in Istanbul on Thursday night and talks were rescheduled for Friday. | Kiev’s representatives eventually arrived in Istanbul on Thursday night and talks were rescheduled for Friday. |
| The Russian delegation was led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s negotiating team at the failed 2022 Istanbul talks. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Kiev’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov. | The Russian delegation was led by presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, who headed Moscow’s negotiating team at the failed 2022 Istanbul talks. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Kiev’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov. |
| The talks follow a surprise invitation last Sunday from Russian President Vladimir Putin for unconditional talks on resolving the long-term root causes of the Ukraine conflict. | The talks follow a surprise invitation last Sunday from Russian President Vladimir Putin for unconditional talks on resolving the long-term root causes of the Ukraine conflict. |
| Zelensky, who had previously ruled out any talks with Moscow, only agreed to attend following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of his support for the talks, and his claim that Kiev should accept it “immediately.” | Zelensky, who had previously ruled out any talks with Moscow, only agreed to attend following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of his support for the talks, and his claim that Kiev should accept it “immediately.” |
| Putin’s spokesman announced on Thursday that the Russian president would not attend the talks, prompting the Ukrainian delegation to complain about the status of the Russian team. | Putin’s spokesman announced on Thursday that the Russian president would not attend the talks, prompting the Ukrainian delegation to complain about the status of the Russian team. |
| Kiev unilaterally withdrew from the 2022 Istanbul talks. President Putin later blamed Western interference and, in particular, then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had reportedly urged Kiev to “just continue fighting,” for derailing the peace process. | Kiev unilaterally withdrew from the 2022 Istanbul talks. President Putin later blamed Western interference and, in particular, then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had reportedly urged Kiev to “just continue fighting,” for derailing the peace process. |
| Russia, which had withdrawn its forces from the outskirts of Kiev as a goodwill gesture, later accused Ukraine of backtracking, saying it had lost trust in Ukraine’s negotiators. | Russia, which had withdrawn its forces from the outskirts of Kiev as a goodwill gesture, later accused Ukraine of backtracking, saying it had lost trust in Ukraine’s negotiators. |