Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Talks Break Down Again – What Really Happened in Istanbul?
Based on reporting from Reuters
Ukraine and Russia just had their first face-to-face peace talks in more than three years, but the meeting in Istanbul didn’t bring any good news. According to Reuters, both countries sat down to discuss a possible ceasefire, but things quickly fell apart. The reason? Russia came with demands that Ukraine says are simply impossible to accept.
Russia’s Demands Called “Unrealistic”
A source from Ukraine told Reuters that Russia asked Ukraine to pull out of some of its own land just to get a temporary ceasefire. Ukraine said no way — calling these demands “non-starters.” It’s like asking someone to give up part of their house to stop a fight — not a real solution.
Trump Pushing for a 30-Day Ceasefire
Interestingly, former U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped in and is pushing for a 30-day ceasefire. After the talks ended, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy got on the phone with Trump, and leaders from France, Germany, and Poland to talk about what to do next. Ukraine wants more countries to place stricter sanctions on Russia if Moscow keeps rejecting peace efforts, Reuters reports.
Short Meeting, No Breakthrough
The meeting, held in an Istanbul palace, lasted less than two hours. Russia’s team, led by Vladimir Medinsky, said they’re ready to keep talking. They did agree to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war — the biggest exchange so far — but that was the only progress made. According to Reuters, nothing else came out of the discussions.
Ukraine Says Russia Just Wants to Stall
Ukraine and its allies believe Russia is just pretending to want peace so it can buy time to rest its soldiers and bring in more weapons. Even though Russia says it wants a diplomatic end to the war, it continues to attack Ukrainian cities. Right before the meeting, there were explosions in the city of Dnipro, Reuters noted.
Putin Didn’t Show Up
Although it was Russia’s President Vladimir Putin who suggested the talks in Turkey, he didn’t attend. Instead, he sent mid-level officials. In response, Ukraine also sent lower-level delegates. Ukrainian officials say if Putin won’t show up, then he’s probably not serious about peace. According to Reuters, Zelenskiy even challenged Putin to meet him face-to-face, but Putin refused.
The Two Paths Ahead
At the start of the meeting, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan gave both sides a clear message: there are two paths — one leading to peace, the other to more destruction. But as Reuters explains, both sides remain far apart in what they want.
Russia wants Ukraine to give up land, drop its plans to join NATO, and become a neutral country. Ukraine completely rejects those demands, saying they would be like surrendering. Ukraine is instead asking world powers like the U.S. to help guarantee its future safety.
Unique Perspective: Peace Won’t Happen Without Real Compromise
Reading between the lines of Reuters’ reporting, one thing is clear: peace won’t happen if one side keeps asking for the impossible. Ukraine won’t give up its land, and Russia won’t stop pushing. Until both sides come with realistic ideas, these talks might just be for show.
Ukraine, worn down by years of war, wants peace — but not at the cost of its freedom. Russia, on the other hand, seems to want Ukraine under its control again. As Reuters points out, even now, Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine’s land.
In simple terms, it’s like two neighbors in a fight. One wants to stop the fighting and live in peace. The other says, “Fine, but give me your garage, your backyard, and stop talking to your friends.” That’s not a fair deal — and that’s why the peace talks failed.
For now, the war continues, and the world watches closely. Will Russia ever agree to a fair peace? Will Ukraine keep standing strong with help from its allies? As Reuters continues to cover, only time — and tough negotiations — will tell.
Credits: This article is based on original reporting from Reuters.
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https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-ukraine-hold-first-direct-peace-talks-over-3-years-2025-05-16