The Kremlin has confirmed that it is preparing for potential direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul later this week, though final confirmation remains pending. The discussions could mark the first formal bilateral peace effort since talks collapsed in 2022.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia continues preparations for the proposed peace talks scheduled for Thursday, following President Vladimir Putin’s recent offer to resume direct dialogue with Kiev.
“The Russian side continues to prepare for the negotiations that are scheduled to take place on Thursday,” Peskov noted, adding that final decisions about participation would be announced when President Putin “deems it necessary.”
On Sunday, Putin expressed willingness to reinitiate talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine conflict. He named Türkiye—where previous peace talks were held in 2022—as the likely host.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky later responded by signaling readiness to meet in person but once again demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a precondition—a stance Russia has repeatedly rejected, arguing it would allow Ukraine to regroup militarily.
Moscow has called instead for talks without preconditions, focusing on addressing the “root causes” of the conflict, such as Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, security guarantees, and recognition of new territorial realities.
US President Donald Trump, who has recently taken a leading role in proposing a negotiated end to the war, voiced support for the Istanbul talks, and even suggested he could act as a mediator if required.
“We want peace, not prolonged bloodshed,” Trump said in a recent statement, calling for both parties to engage directly and without delay.
Peskov firmly dismissed the possibility of Western European nations joining the peace process, arguing that the EU lacks neutrality in the conflict.
“Western Europe is entirely on Ukraine’s side. It cannot claim to have an unbiased approach,” Peskov said, adding that the EU's strategy appears “pro-war,” in contrast to the “balanced” stances shown by Russia and the United States.
The Kremlin’s skepticism of EU involvement reflects Moscow’s preference for direct dialogue with Kiev and Washington, rather than multilateral frameworks involving NATO-aligned nations.
The planned talks in Istanbul are still subject to confirmation by both sides. If successful, they could mark the first breakthrough in the stalled diplomatic process in over two years.
While skepticism remains high, observers note that growing battlefield fatigue, mounting civilian casualties, and political shifts in the West may create the conditions for a negotiated ceasefire.