US Envoys Travel Istanbul Russia-Ukraine Talks Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty

Senior U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are scheduled to travel to Istanbul for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, marking the first direct negotiations since early 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed his participation and insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin must also attend for the talks to proceed, challenging Moscow to demonstrate sincerity in seeking peace. While Putin proposed direct talks and Moscow has expressed willingness to negotiate without preconditions, it remains unclear whether he or Russian representatives will attend, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that any announcement will be made when Putin deems appropriate. The United States is advocating for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire across land, air, sea, and critical infrastructure, which Kyiv has agreed to, and the talks are facilitated by Turkey, with U.S. officials taking an observational role. President Donald Trump expressed interest in attending the meeting but may be unable to due to his ongoing Middle East tour, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also in Turkey for related discussions at a NATO foreign ministers' meeting. The talks are seen as a critical step towards ending the war, with European support contingent on Russia's agreement to ceasefire terms.