Ukraine, Russia to Hold First Peace Talks in Years

Ukraine and Russia are set to hold their first direct peace talks in over three years in Istanbul, with the Russian delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky instead of President Putin, whose absence has been criticized by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Former U.S. President Donald Trump will also not attend, reducing expectations for decisive progress. Both sides have tentatively supported a 30-day ceasefire, though disagreements on preconditions remain, and active fighting continues in Ukraine's Sumy region and Russian border areas. European leaders have warned of additional sanctions if the talks do not yield concrete results. Ukrainian troops remain skeptical about the potential for a diplomatic breakthrough, affirming their commitment to continued resistance. The talks represent a significant diplomatic development amid ongoing intense military operations.