The Kremlin stated on Saturday that a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would only be possible after both nations reach a formal agreement, dampening hopes of a swift diplomatic breakthrough following the first high-level talks between the two sides in over three years.
This latest statement came a day after senior Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul to negotiate terms of a possible ceasefire and other de-escalation measures. While no truce emerged, both sides agreed to conduct a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange—marking the most concrete result of the talks.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister and lead negotiator Rustem Umerov called for a presidential-level meeting as the next step. Russia responded that such a summit could only occur “after achieving certain results in the form of an agreement”, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The completion of the agreed prisoner swap is seen as a key initial condition.
Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky added that both countries would, in due course, present their respective positions on a possible ceasefire, although no timeline has been provided for further talks.
Despite these tentative diplomatic movements, hostilities have continued unabated on the ground. A Russian drone attack on Saturday targeted a minibus evacuating civilians in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing nine and wounding five. The vehicle was en route to Sumy from the nearby city of Bilopillya, which lies near the increasingly volatile border with Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the attack, saying Russia had once again rejected an opportunity to cease hostilities. “Russia only retains the opportunity to continue killing,” he said, urging Ukraine’s Western allies to intensify sanctions against Moscow. “Without stronger pressure, there will be no real diplomacy.”
The eastern and southern regions of Ukraine also witnessed deadly shelling on Saturday. Two people died and 13 were injured in the Kherson region after artillery struck residential areas and a truck delivering humanitarian supplies. In the Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, another two were killed and several more wounded during aerial assaults. These follow Friday’s strikes that claimed three lives in the Donetsk and Kherson regions.
Amid continued fighting, Western leaders gathered in Albania to discuss coordinated action. Zelensky, attending the summit alongside European counterparts, renewed his appeal for a firm international response if negotiations fail. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that additional sanctions were being prepared in coordination with the United States, should Moscow refuse to accept an “unconditional ceasefire”.
Zelensky criticised the Russian delegation in Istanbul as lacking seriousness, highlighting that President Putin had not attended the meeting. “Everyone saw a weak and unprepared Russian delegation with no significant powers,” Zelensky said, describing the situation as a missed opportunity for meaningful progress.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump, who is reportedly engaging with both Moscow and Washington on resolving the conflict, insisted that no substantive progress could be made until he personally meets with Putin. “Nothing’s going to happen until I sit down with him,” Trump claimed.
A major sticking point in the talks remains Russia’s territorial claims. A Ukrainian source told AFP that Moscow had pushed for what Kyiv considers extreme demands, including formal recognition of Russia’s annexation of five Ukrainian regions—four seized since the 2022 invasion and Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Ukraine’s foreign ministry labelled the demands “unacceptable”.
As both sides dig in, and while civilians continue to suffer under relentless bombardment, the prospect of a swift resolution remains uncertain. While diplomacy has resumed in some form, the road to peace appears long and fraught.