Russia Pushes for Ceasefire Talks in Istanbul, Ukraine Demands Peace Plan First

The Kremlin has expressed its expectation for Russia and Ukraine to engage in discussions next week in Istanbul regarding conditions for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, lauded the United States’ role in mediating these potential negotiations, signaling Moscow’s readiness to send its delegation to Istanbul for talks as early as Monday morning.
However, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on Friday that Kyiv requires a clear outline of Russia’s peace proposals before committing to send a delegation to Turkiye. This condition highlights a key hurdle in initiating the next round of diplomatic efforts, as Ukraine seeks tangible commitments rather than just a meeting. The Kremlin, for its part, indicated that a list of conditions for a temporary truce is currently under development, though the specifics of this memorandum will not be publicly disclosed.
A crucial reported condition from Moscow for ending the war is a written pledge from Western leaders to halt NATO’s eastward expansion. This demand gained some traction with comments from Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, who acknowledged Russia’s concern over NATO enlargement as legitimate and stated the United States’ disinterest in Ukraine joining the alliance. Peskov expressed satisfaction with Washington’s apparent understanding of Russia’s long-held position on this issue, finding the US mediating role particularly appealing.