Ukrainian Foreign Ministry officials confirmed that trilateral negotiations between Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States have begun in Istanbul.
The Ukrainian delegation is led by Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the update via Telegram, stating, “The trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Turkey have commenced in Istanbul.”
Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that while Yermak and Sybiga remain in Istanbul, they are not part of the official negotiation team approved by President Zelensky.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks at the opening of the Türkiye–Russia–Ukraine trilateral meeting in Istanbul ⤵️
— We must seize this opportunity to advance on the path to peace
— The fact that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to direct talks made this critical stage… pic.twitter.com/7Vm3ZgJaVu— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 16, 2025
Potential First Direct Talks Between Russia and Ukraine in Over Three Years
Agence France-Presse noted that the meetings are expected to facilitate the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in more than three years. However, the anticipated meeting on Thursday did not take place.
A source from the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday plans for a meeting between Russian, Ukrainian, and Turkish delegations at 12:30 PM, following a preliminary session involving Turkey, the US, and Ukraine.
Modest Expectations for the Talks
While the US will not participate directly in the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously confirmed that he would meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. US officials are also expected to engage with the Russian delegation.
Rubio tempered expectations ahead of the meeting, stating that they were “modest” due to the low-level Russian representation and the prior exchanges of insults between the parties.
He remarked, “I want to be clear. I don’t think we have high expectations for what will happen,” though he expressed hope that significant breakthroughs could be achieved during Friday’s talks.
Source: News Agencies
