Ukraine, Russia meet in Turkiye for peace talks with few hopes for breakthrough
The Hindu
Russia and Ukraine hold peace talks in Turkey amid ongoing conflict, with low expectations for progress.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine gathered in Turkiye on Monday (June 2, 2025) for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, although expectations were low for any significant progress on ending the three-year war.
The Ukrainian delegation led Defence Minister Rustem Umerov was in Istanbul for the meeting, Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said in a message posted on the Ukrainian Embassy Whatsapp group.
The Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived on Sunday evening, Russian state media reported.
Turkish officials said the meeting would start at 1 p.m. local time, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan presiding over the talks and officials from the Turkish intelligence agency also present.
However, Ukrainian spokesperson Mr. Tykhyi said the start would be at midday local time. It was not immediately possible to clarify the discrepancy.
Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on the key conditions for stopping the war. Fierce fighting has in the meantime continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, and both sides have hit each other's territory with deep strikes.
On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep inside Russia, Ukraine's Security Service said, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones.
BTS returns with a massive concert in Seoul, attracting 260,000 fans and streaming live on Netflix.
U.S. airport delays are expected to worsen as TSA staffing issues persist amid an ongoing government shutdown.
Iran-Israel war: Follow the latest updates from The Hindu on the West Asia war, on March 21, 2026
A federal judge blocks the Pentagon's restrictive press access policy, emphasizing the public's right to diverse information.
UK approves US strikes from British bases on Iran missile sites, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to avoid war.
Czech authorities investigate a suspected arson at a drone technology warehouse linked to anti-Israel group claims.
Ayatollah Khamenei claims Iran has struck a significant blow against enemies amid escalating tensions and ongoing conflict with Israel.
Trump labels NATO allies "cowards" for not supporting the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, criticizing their inaction amid rising oil prices.
Iran warns that global tourist sites are unsafe for Israeli and U.S. officials, while continuing missile development amid ongoing conflict.
Explore how U.S. and Israeli assassinations have transformed Iranian leaders into martyrs, reinforcing a culture of sacrifice and defiance.
Exiled Iranian writer Shahrnush Parsipur’s banned novella explores women’s freedom amid political repression and cultural patriarchy.
Sri Lanka denies U.S. warplanes access to its airport, balancing ties with the U.S. and Iran amid trade interests.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto condemns acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus as terrorism, pledging to pursue justice.