Instanbul: Just hours after launching one of the largest drone offensives of the war, Ukraine returned to the negotiating table with Russia for a second round of peace talks — raising both hopes and tensions in equal measure.
The meeting, held on Monday at Istanbul’s historic Ciragan Palace and hosted by Turkish mediators, lasted just over an hour. Despite high stakes, both sides appeared cautious about revealing too much. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that discussions included a new prisoner exchange deal, while Russian delegates reportedly dismissed calls for an unconditional ceasefire.
“The meeting didn’t end negatively,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli — a diplomatic way of saying there was no real breakthrough, but no breakdown either.
Drone Strike Shakes Russia Hours Before Talks
What makes this round of talks even more explosive is what happened the day before: Kyiv unleashed a wave of long-range drone attacks, striking four major Russian airbases across Siberia, the Arctic, and the Far East — over 7,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s borders. The operation reportedly destroyed up to 40 Russian aircraft and inflicted over $2 billion in damages.
Kira Rudik, Ukrainian MP, didn’t mince words.
“Destruction of 40 Russian jets isn’t random,” she posted on X. “Russia keeps launching 500 drones and missiles at us—it’s only a matter of time before things start shifting on their end.”
Zelenskyy echoed that sentiment, calling the operation “brilliant” and asserting that such heavy losses could push Moscow toward serious diplomacy.
Inside the Talks: What We Know
Ukraine’s 14-member delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, met with Russian representatives headed by Putin advisor Vladimir Medinsky. The delegations included top figures from intelligence, defense, and foreign affairs.
While no concrete peace deal has been reached, the very act of reconvening after such a massive escalation may be a signal that both sides are recalibrating their war strategies.
Previous Round: Limited Progress
The first round of talks, held on May 16, resulted in an agreement for a large-scale prisoner swap, but failed to produce any lasting framework for ending the war. That track record leaves observers skeptical — but still watching closely.
US Ceasefire Efforts Falter
Efforts by the United States to mediate a ceasefire continue to stall. While Ukraine has expressed openness to negotiations, Russia remains firm in its rejection of Western-brokered proposals.
As both diplomacy and warfare escalate in tandem, the world watches: will these talks open the door to real peace, or simply mark the calm before the next storm?
