At the very heart of Turkey, in Istanbul, long-awaited negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations have begun
This marks a key stage in recent efforts to find a path to peace in the armed conflict that has been ongoing for over a year. These talks are taking place under complex political conditions and are the result of active diplomatic efforts by Kyiv and Moscow, with Turkey serving as a mediator and guarantor of conflict de-escalation. According to information released by the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the importance of this diplomatic event is underscored by the presence of Turkish authorities in the hall. During the negotiation sessions, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is present, indicating a high level of interest and support from the Turkish side. Additionally, the head of Turkey’s Intelligence Service, İbrahim Kalın, is also attending, further emphasizing the significance of this meeting in the context of regional security and diplomacy. It is worth recalling that on June 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, approved an updated composition of the Ukrainian delegation for participation in the negotiation process with Russia in Istanbul. The delegation is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Notably, some personnel changes were made in the new team: Oleksiy Malozatksyi, head of the International and Operational Law Department of the Central Legal Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was excluded. In their place, three new representatives joined — Andriy Fomin, Yevhenii Ostryanskyi, and Yuriy Kovbasa — experts in diplomacy, law, and security. Before the main negotiations began, Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia and Ukrainian delegation member Oleksandr Bevz held important meetings with representatives of Ukraine’s European partners — Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. These meetings provided an opportunity to coordinate positions, discuss approaches, and garner support from European countries that aim to end the military conflict and promote the achievement of long-term peace. The negotiation process in Istanbul is unfolding in a complex atmosphere — participants face numerous challenges related to the war-ending formula, regional security and stability, and the search for compromises that would satisfy both sides. This tension concerns not only the fate of individual regions but also the future of European security and stability as a whole. It should be noted that this stage of diplomatic negotiations is one of the critical attempts to adjust the course of the conflict and find a way to a just and sustainable peace. Whether progress will be achieved depends on many factors, including the will to compromise and international support. Regardless of the final outcome, this process has already become an important step in the Ukrainian people's effort to preserve their statehood and end bloodshed.