The United States is not expecting much from the upcoming peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which are set to take place in Turkey. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, expressed skepticism about the negotiations, suggesting that real progress may only happen when former President Donald Trump meets directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This meeting marks the first direct peace discussions between the two countries in three years. It follows a proposal from Putin for negotiations "without any preconditions," which came after a group of countries warned Russia of new sanctions if it did not participate in a ceasefire set to begin soon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had invited Putin to meet in Istanbul, but Putin declined.
Zelenskyy is sending a team led by his defense minister to the talks in Istanbul. However, he criticized Russia’s negotiating team, saying it lacks decision-makers and is more of a "theatre prop" than a serious delegation. Russian aide Vladimir Medinsky, who is leading the discussions for Russia, said their goal is to achieve long-term peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict.
Rubio is scheduled to meet with Ukraine’s delegation and shared his doubts about the talks, saying that he hopes for a ceasefire but does not realistically expect a breakthrough. He echoed Trump’s earlier statement that significant progress will not occur until he and Putin have a chance to talk.
The ongoing war has resulted in heavy casualties, with tens of thousands of soldiers killed on both sides and over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians dead since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. As the peace talks approach, there are warnings from Ukrainian officials and Western military analysts about a potential new Russian military offensive.
Zelenskyy and other leaders continue to emphasize that Russia is the main obstacle to peace, reiterating that the conflict began with Russia’s invasion and that it remains the only country impeding a resolution.