Associated Press

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives in Turkey for peace talks but Putin is absent

Putin skips Ukraine talks in Turkey as Russia shirks pressure from Trump, hurls insults at Zelenskyy instead

Putin skips the direct Ukraine peace talks that he suggested as chaos reigns in Turkey

Global Research

Istanbul Summit: Should It be a "Peace Negotiation" or an Acceptance of Surrender as the US Loses the War in Ukraine? - Global Research

USA Today

Russia and Ukraine to hold first direct peace talks in over three years

New York Times

Officials From Russia and Ukraine Are in Turkey, But Will Peace Talks Take Place?

Newsweek

Russian Jet Violates NATO Airspace as Putin 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Escorted

Guardian

Zelenskyy sends team for peace talks but says Russia ‘not serious enough’

Who are the diplomats Russia and Ukraine are sending to peace talks in Istanbul?

Russia Mocks Zelensky Over Putin No-Show: 'Pathetic Loser'

Estonia warns Russia may use military force to defend its shadow tanker fleet

Trump might be a strongman — but he still can’t do everything he wants

Daily Mail

Russian fighter jet in 'dogfight' with NATO as allied forces try to board Moscow oil tanker in high-stakes naval showdown off the coast of Europe

New York Post

Ukraine’s Zelensky arrives in Turkey for high-stakes peace talks — but Putin is absent

Confusion and chaos as Russia and Ukraine agree to first direct talks in 3 years

Reuters

Russia Ukraine Hold First Direct Peace Talks Over 3 Years 2025 05 16

Russian and Ukrainian officials meet for first direct talks since 2022

Number one priority is ceasefire, says Zelenskyy, as first talks between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 close in Istanbul  live

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Antony Blinken

Jens Stoltenberg

Sergei Ryabkov

Kurt Volker

Metaculus

Alexander Stubb

Michael McCaul

NATO

Mircea Geoan

Michael R. Carpenter

Mark Rutte

Andriy Yermak

Julianne Smith

Robert Fico

Ukraine joining NATO "will never happen."

NATO hasn't "reached the point where it is prepared to offer membership or an invitation to Ukraine."

“As long as I am head of the Slovak government, I will direct the MPs that are under my control... never to agree to Ukraine's joining NATO.”

"We cannot admit Ukraine into NATO immediately."

Ukraine is "fully prepared and able to be a member of NATO."

We will take "concrete steps to bring Ukraine closer to NATO."

"Ukraine's path and bridge towards NATO membership is now irreversible."

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and will continue on this path until [it] become[s] a member of our alliance."

"Ukraine will join NATO. It is not a question of if, but of when."

Will Ukraine Join NATO?

<h2></h2>

Negotiating teams from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul on Friday — marking the first time that officials from the countries have had face-to-face dialogue since previous peace talks broke down in the first months of the conflict.

Al Jazeera

Negotiating teams from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul on Friday — marking the first time that officials from the countries have had face-to-face dialogue since previous peace talks broke down in the first months of the conflict.

Talks got underway a day after originally scheduled after Russia's delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, but Ukraine's delegation remained in Ankara with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader held the team back after Russian President Vladimir Putin <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/putin-not-named-in-russias-delegation-to-ukraine-peace-talks">declined a challenge from Zelenskyy</a> to attend the talks in person.

TASS

Talks got underway a day after originally scheduled after Russia's delegation arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, but Ukraine's delegation remained in Ankara with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader held the team back after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined a challenge from Zelenskyy to attend the talks in person.

After emerging from a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan late on Thursday, Zelenskyy alleged Putin's absence showed a lack of seriousness but said he released the negotiating team to Istanbul out of respect to U.S. President Donald Trump and the Turkish leader.

After emerging from a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan late on Thursday, Zelenskyy alleged Putin's absence showed a lack of seriousness but said he released the negotiating team to Istanbul out of respect to U.S. President Donald Trump and the Turkish leader.

Meanwhile, Trump again suggested he may travel to Istanbul, as well as justifying Putin's decision not to attend. "Why would he go if I'm not going?" Trump said. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One later on Thursday, he suggested "nothing is going to happen" on Ukraine talks "until Putin and I get together."

The Hill

BBC News

Meanwhile, Trump again suggested he may travel to Istanbul, as well as justifying Putin's decision not to attend. "Why would he go if I'm not going?" Trump said. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One later on Thursday, he suggested "nothing is going to happen" on Ukraine talks "until Putin and I get together."

On Friday morning, ahead of talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a Putin-Trump meeting was "undoubtedly necessary," but warned that preparation was needed before talks could take place.

On Friday morning, ahead of talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a Putin-Trump meeting was "undoubtedly necessary," but warned that preparation was needed before talks could take place.

Opening Friday's meeting between Russia and Ukraine at the Dolmabahce Palace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the delegations: "There are two paths ahead of us: one road will take us on a process that will lead to peace, while the other will lead to more destruction and death. The sides will decide on their own, with their own will, which path they choose."

DAWN.COM

Opening Friday's meeting between Russia and Ukraine at the Dolmabahce Palace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the delegations: "There are two paths ahead of us: one road will take us on a process that will lead to peace, while the other will lead to more destruction and death. The sides will decide on their own, with their own will, which path they choose."

Ukraine's negotiating team only seems interested in achieving a 30-day ceasefire without wanting to address the root issues of the conflict. This is concerning, as a long-term solution is all that will be acceptable to the Russian side of the equation.

Ukraine's negotiating team only seems interested in achieving a 30-day ceasefire without wanting to address the root issues of the conflict. This is concerning, as a long-term solution is all that will be acceptable to the Russian side of the equation.

Kievs desire to discuss only ceasefire causes concern  Russian diplomat

Pro-Russia narrative

Talks with Russia concluded just as expected, with them making a number of unreasonable and unexpected demands, many of which are non-starters for Ukraine.

Talks with Russia concluded just as expected, with them making a number of unreasonable and unexpected demands, many of which are non-starters for Ukraine.

Ukrainska Pravda

Russians make "unrealistic" demands at Istanbul talks, Sky News report

Pro-Ukraine narrative

There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral ceasefire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by February 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral ceasefire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by February 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Russia-Ukraine Delegations Meet for First Time Since 2022

The Spin

Pro-Russia narrative

Pro-Ukraine narrative

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Ryabkov

Smith

Fico

McCaul

Yermak

Blinken

Stubb

Rutte

Stoltenberg

Go Deeper

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Russia-Ukraine Delegations Meet for First Time Since 2022

The Spin

Pro-Russia narrative

Pro-Ukraine narrative

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Ryabkov

Smith

Fico

McCaul

Yermak

Blinken

Stubb

Rutte

Stoltenberg

Go Deeper

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters