Turkey to Host Trilateral Russia-Ukraine Talks on Friday; U.S. Participation Also Expected

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Turkey will host a new round of talks involving Russia and Ukraine on Friday, following a high-level meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky on Thursday evening at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace, according to a Turkish foreign ministry source.

The closed-door meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to continue discussions in various formats. A trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey is planned for Friday, along with separate U.S.-Ukraine-Turkey talks. While a four-way format that includes U.S. and Russian representatives remains under consideration, it has not yet been confirmed.

The Russian delegation, led by Kremlin aide Medinsky, includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. Ukraine will be represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chose to remain in Ankara following Moscow’s decision to send a lower-tier team.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed from a NATO summit in Antalya that he will meet Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Istanbul on Friday. A lower-level U.S. official is expected to engage with the Russian delegation separately.

Rubio tempered expectations, stating, “We don’t have high hopes for tomorrow’s outcomes, but we support Turkey’s efforts to bring the delegations face to face.”

This marks the first direct diplomatic contact between Russian and Ukrainian officials in over three years, following the breakdown of negotiations in 2022. Talks this week are seen as a significant, albeit cautious, step toward possible de-escalation amid ongoing hostilities.