ukraine

Europe’s Election Sunday Marked by Tension

Sunday, May 18 saw three significant referendums held across the European Union – in Romania, Poland and Portugal. In each case, pro-European candidates came out on top, prevailing over a far right that continues to gain ground across the continent. At a time when Europe is navigating the turbulence of war in Ukraine and increasingly strained ...

Istanbul Talks End Quickly as Russia Makes "Unacceptable" Demands

Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs. Kyiv is seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, which has also destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and ...

Zelensky Urges Strong International Response if Istanbul Talks with Russia Fail

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for a “strong response” from the international community if the planned talks with Russia in Istanbul fail. “If it turns out that the Russian delegation is only there for appearances and cannot deliver any results today, then everyone must respond,” he said from Tirana. “There ...

Ankara Calls for Ceasefire 'As Soon As Possible' in Ukraine at Talks with Russia

Ankara called on Friday for a ceasefire “as soon as possible” in Ukraine at the opening of Turkish-mediated talks in Istanbul between Kyiv and Moscow—the first such talks since the spring of 2022. “It is of crucial importance that a ceasefire be implemented as soon as possible,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stressing that ...

Trump Says Wants to Meet Putin 'as Soon as we Can Set it Up'

"As soon as we can set it up I would actually leave here and go," Trump said in response to a question about meeting the Russian leader. Trump has repeatedly said he was willing to travel to Turkey to join the first direct Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in more than three years, insisting "nothing's going to happen" before he meets the Russian ...

Ukraine Peace Talks: What are Kyiv and Moscow's Positions?

Delegations from Kyiv and Moscow are in Istanbul on Friday, set to hold their first direct talks on the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine for more than three years. Expectations are low for the talks -- initially proposed by Vladimir Putin -- after the Russian leader declined Volodymyr Zelensky's call for a presidential summit in Turkey ...

Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks in Turkey: What we Know

Ukraine and Russia plan on Friday in Istanbul to hold their first direct peace talks in more than three years. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky had travelled to Turkey but said he would not attend the talks, after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin declined his calls for face-to-face negotiations. Tens of thousands have been killed ...

US, Turkey, Ukraine Meeting Starts in Istanbul, but Expectations Low

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began meeting his Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts Friday ahead of the first direct Russia-Ukraine talks in three years, a Turkish foreign ministry source said. At the meeting, which was being chaired by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace, were Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy ...

Turkey-Russia Meet Ends, Ukraine to Join Talks Friday

Talks in Istanbul between Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Russian delegation ended late on Thursday with the sides set to meet again Friday with the Ukrainians, a foreign ministry source said. "The meeting has ended. Tomorrow there will be more talks in different formats," the source said, indicating that ...