Istanbul
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that the war between Russia and Ukraine cannot be solved through military action. Speaking in Antalya, Turkey, Rubio said the only way forward is through diplomacy. He said the United States is hopeful that talks will soon bring some progress, even though the situation remains difficult.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed restarting direct peace talks with Ukraine, without any preconditions. These talks were stopped in 2022 but could begin again in Istanbul. The Russian delegation has already arrived and says it is ready for serious discussions.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, confirmed that the talks are aimed at ending the conflict and finding a long-lasting peace. She said President Putin wants to remove the root causes of the war. Putin himself will not attend the talks, but top Russian officials including Vladimir Medinsky, Mikhail Galuzin, Igor Kostyukov, and Alexander Fomin will be part of the delegation.
US President Donald Trump also expressed hope that the talks in Istanbul will be productive. He said Rubio and other officials would attend the meetings and see if peace could be reached.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was discussing the meeting format with his team. He is waiting to see who Russia sends before deciding Ukraine’s next steps. He said Russia’s public messages so far are not convincing.
Both sides appear cautious, but diplomatic steps are now being taken toward ending the war.