Russia and Ukraine agree on leaders’ summit - Turkish FM

The third round of peace talks in Istanbul has been a meaningful step forward, according to Hakan Fidan

Moscow and Kiev have agreed for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. His remarks came shortly after the latest round of bilateral negotiations facilitated by Ankara.

The third round of direct peace talks took place on Wednesday in Istanbul. While no ceasefire was reached, the parties made some progress on humanitarian issues, including agreements on the further exchange of prisoners of war and civilians.

“During the meeting, leaders discussed the conditions under which they might come together,” Fidan told Turkish broadcaster NTV on Friday, noting that “a summit between the leaders in Türkiye was agreed upon in principle.”

Earlier in the week, Fidan described the Istanbul talks as another step toward ending the conflict, emphasizing that “every new achievement brings the sides one step closer to peace.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky is being considered, but stressed that it should only take place at the final stage of peace negotiations. He added that such a summit is “unlikely” to happen within a month.

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Russia maintains that it is open to a diplomatic solution, but only one that addresses what it calls the “root causes” of the war and Moscow’s security concerns.

Zelensky has long called for a personal meeting with Putin. Ukraine’s negotiators reiterated the proposal in Istanbul this week, saying that a one-on-one summit was a key step toward ending the fighting. US President Donald Trump has also voiced support for direct talks between the two leaders as part of a broader push to resolve the conflict. Moscow has never ruled out the possibility, but insists that the necessary groundwork must first be established.

Russia has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his five-year term in May 2024. Zelensky has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law. Russian officials argue that any agreements signed under his authority could potentially be contested.

The Kremlin has also demanded that Ukraine lift martial law and hold elections within 100 days as a condition for any long-term ceasefire.