Russia and Ukraine to carry their first peace talks in 3 years

[ad_1] ISTANBUL (AP) — The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks for the reason that early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion ended after lower than two hours Friday, and whereas either side agreed on a big prisoner swap, they clearly remained far aside on key situations for ending the preventing.

One such situation for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a brief ceasefire as a primary step towards a peaceable settlement. The Kremlin has pushed again in opposition to such a truce, which stays elusive.

“We haven’t acquired a Russian ‘sure’ on this primary level,” Ukrainian Overseas Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhii stated after the talks. “If you wish to have critical negotiations, it's a must to have weapons silenced.”

Russian presidential aide, Vladimir Medinsky, proper, and different members of Russian delegation attend talks with Ukrainian delegation on the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey, Ton Friday, Could 16, 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov, Sputnik Pool Photograph by way of AP)

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However Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky pronounced himself “happy with the result,” including that Moscow was able to proceed contacts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he mentioned the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.Ok. and Poland. In a put up on X from a European leadership meeting in Albania , he urged “robust sanctions” in opposition to Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an finish to killings.”

In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to change 1,000 prisoners of warfare every, in keeping with the heads of each delegations, in what could be their biggest such swap .

Either side additionally mentioned a ceasefire and a gathering between their heads of state, in keeping with chief Ukrainian delegate, Protection Minister Rustem Umerov.

AP AUDIO: Russia-Ukraine peace talks finish after lower than 2 hours

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reviews Russia and Ukraine are holding their first direct peace talks in three years.

Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, stated either side agreed to offer one another with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state assembly, which Russia took into consideration.

“The strain on the Russian Federation should proceed,” stated Serhii Kyslytsia, Ukraine’s first deputy international minister and a part of Kyiv’s delegation. “We must always probably not calm down at this level.”

On this handout picture launched by Turkish Overseas Ministry, from left, Ukraine’s Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Workplace Andriy Yermak arrive for a gathering at Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Could 16, 2025. (Turkish Overseas Ministry by way of AP)

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New, ‘unacceptable situations’ In the course of the talks, a senior Ukrainian official stated Russia launched new, “unacceptable calls for” to withdraw Ukrainian forces from enormous swaths of territory. The official, who was not approved to make official statements, spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity. The proposal had not been beforehand mentioned, the official stated.

The Ukrainian facet reiterated it was targeted on attaining actual progress — a right away ceasefire and a pathway to substantive diplomacy — “similar to the U.S., European companions, and different international locations proposed,” the official added.

Overseas Ministry spokesman Tykhii confirmed the Russian delegation “voiced quite a few issues that we deem unacceptable,” however added: “That is one thing that Russians normally voice, and we had been preserving to our line.”

The 2 sides sat reverse one another at a U-shaped desk within the Dolmabahce Palace however remained far apart of their situations for ending the warfare. Trump, who has pressed for an finish to the battle, stated he would meet with Putin “as quickly as we will set it up.”

“I believe it’s time for us to simply do it,” Trump advised reporters in Abu Dhabi as he wrapped up a visit to the Center East.

Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks by urging individuals “to reap the benefits of this chance,” including it was “critically necessary that the ceasefire occurs as quickly as doable.”

In a social media put up, Fidan referred to as the POW swap as a “confidence-building measure” and stated the events had agreed in precept to fulfill once more.

Zelenskyy seeks European unity

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the sixth European Political Group summit Friday Could 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania. (Leon Neal/Pool by way of AP)

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Zelenskyy was in Tirana, Albania, with leaders of 47 European international locations to debate safety, protection and democratic requirements in opposition to the backdrop of the warfare. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“Strain on Russia have to be maintained till Russia is able to finish the warfare,” Zelenskyy stated on X, posting a photograph of the leaders through the name, the second for the group since Could 10.

Talking to reporters after the decision with Trump, Starmer stated the Russian place “is clearly unacceptable.”

Whereas he didn’t say what the Europeans’ response may contain, a few of them pressed for brand spanking new sanctions, with the European Union prone to undertake new measures as quickly as Tuesday.

Macron stated it was “unacceptable that, for a second time, Russia hasn’t responded to the calls for made by the People, supported by Ukraine and the Europeans. No ceasefire, and due to this fact no assembly at a decision-making degree. And no response.”

Merz stated diplomatic efforts to this point “have sadly failed due to Russia’s lack of readiness to take the primary steps in the precise route now.”

“However we is not going to hand over,” he added. All three stated Kyiv and its allies in Europe will proceed to coordinate their efforts.

Diplomatic maneuvering Each international locations engaged in diplomatic maneuvering this week as they tried to indicate Trump that they're keen to barter, though he expressed frustration with the sluggish progress and threatened to punish foot-dragging.

On Thursday, Putin spurned an offer by Zelenskyy to fulfill face-to-face in Turkey. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of not making a critical effort to finish the warfare by sending a low-level delegation.

Ukraine has accepted a U.S. and European proposal for a full, 30-day ceasefire , however Putin has successfully rejected it by imposing far-reaching situations.

Commenting on a doable Trump-Putin assembly, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov appeared to point that momentum for such a summit is constructing. He advised reporters that top-level talks had been “actually wanted,” however added that making ready a summit would take time.

Combating continues in Ukraine Russia, in the meantime, is making ready a fresh military offensive , Ukrainian authorities and Western navy analysts say.

Russian Protection Minister Andrei Belousov was in Minsk to debate joint military drills in September and deliveries of recent weapons to Belarus. Zelenskyy has warned that the navy buildup in Belarus, which borders NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, may function a canopy for future assaults.

A Friday drone assault on the northeastern metropolis of Kupiansk killed a 55-year-old girl and wounded 4 males, stated Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Army Administration..

Russia’s invasion has killed greater than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, the U.N. says, and razed cities and villages. Tens of hundreds of Ukrainian troopers have died, and sure a bigger variety of Russian troops, officers and analysts say.

One Ukrainian soldier advised AP he wasn’t hopeful in regards to the talks.

“I don’t suppose they may agree on something concrete, as a result of summer time is one of the best time for warfare,” stated the soldier, who used the decision signal “Corsair” in accordance with Ukrainian navy guidelines. “The enemy is making an attempt to continuously escalate the state of affairs.”

However he stated a lot of his comrades “imagine that by the tip of the 12 months there might be peace, albeit an unstable one, however peace.”

Earlier than the talks, Ukrainian officers met with nationwide safety advisers from the U.S., France, Germany and the U.Ok. to coordinate positions, the senior Ukrainian official advised AP. The U.S. staff was led by retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s particular envoy to Ukraine and Russia, whereas Umerov and presidential workplace chief Andriy Yermak represented Ukraine, the official stated.

A 3-way assembly between Turkey, the U.S. and Ukraine additionally passed off, Turkish Overseas Ministry officers stated. The U.S. facet included Secretary of State Marco Rubio in addition to Kellogg.

On Thursday, Rubio stated he believed a breakthrough was solely doable is a gathering between Trump and Putin.

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Prepare dinner reported from Brussels. Related Press writers Aamer Madhani in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, contributed.

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Comply with AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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