Russia has confirmed it is getting ready for peace talks with Ukraine, set to take place this Thursday in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Tuesday that preparations are still underway. “The Russian side continues its preparations for the talks, which are set to take place in Istanbul on Thursday. That’s all for now, no further comments,” he said during a press briefing in Moscow, reported by The Nation News.
Though Peskov didn’t reveal who will represent Russia at the meeting, it is believed that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential adviser Yury Ushakov might lead the delegation.
These peace talks come at a time of rising tension and growing international pressure to bring an end to the war, which has caused thousands of deaths and forced millions to flee their homes.
The proposal for this round of talks came directly from Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference in Moscow on Sunday. He called for unconditional discussions in Istanbul, hinting at a possible path to diplomacy. Later that day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Putin by phone and confirmed that Türkiye is ready to host the negotiations.
Istanbul, which has previously hosted earlier talks between the two sides in 2022, is once again stepping into its role as a potential bridge for peace.
While the world watches closely, hopes remain cautious. Past negotiations have failed to produce lasting results, but this new round offers a glimmer of hope that dialogue, not violence, might lead the way forward.
