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Russia-Ukraine talks end after less than two hours in Turkey

Published : Saturday, 17 May, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 353
ISTANBUL, May 16: The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years lasted well under two hours, with no apparent sign of progress so far in narrowing the gap between the sides, and a Ukrainian source called Moscow's demands "non-starters".

Delegations from the warring sides met at a palace in Turkey on Friday, their first face-to-face meeting since March 2022, the month after Russia's invasion of its neighbour.

The chasm between the two sides was quickly apparent, according to the Ukrainian source who told Reuters that Russia's demands were "detached from reality and go far beyond anything that was previously discussed".

They included ultimatums for Ukraine to withdraw from parts of its own territory in order to obtain a ceasefire "and other non-starters and non-constructive conditions," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate word from the Russian side.

Expectations for a major breakthrough, already low, were dented further on Thursday when U.S. President Donald Trump, winding up a Middle East tour, said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv's top priority was "a full, unconditional and honest ceasefire... to stop the killing and create a solid basis for diplomacy". He said that if Russia refused, it should be hit with strong new sanctions against its energy sector and banks.

Russia says it wants to end the war by diplomatic means and is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But it has raised a list of questions and concerns, saying Ukraine could use a pause to rest its forces, mobilise extra troops and acquire more western weapons.

Ukraine and its allies accuse Putin of stalling, and say he is not serious about wanting peace.
Both sides are under pressure from Trump to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two. There was no immediate announcement on whether talks might resume, or when.

The delegates were seated opposite each other, with the Russians in suits and half of the Ukrainians wearing camouflage military fatigues.

"There are two paths ahead of us: one road will take us on a process that will lead to peace, while the other will lead to more destruction and death. The sides will decide on their own, with their own will, which path they choose," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told them at the start of the meeting.

The Ukrainian source said the Ukrainians spoke in their own language, although Russian is widely spoken and understood in Ukraine.

It was Putin who proposed the direct talks in Turkey, but he spurned a challenge from Zelenskiy to meet him there in person, instead sending a team of mid-level officials. Ukraine responded by naming negotiators of similar rank. "REUTERS



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