Kremlin Points to Istanbul for Peace Talks: Parties ‘Positive’
Istanbul, March 11 – Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov stated that Istanbul remains a viable option for peace negotiations concerning Ukraine, adding that “all parties view this quite positively.” This announcement follows the latest round of peace discussions held in Geneva, Switzerland.
No Concrete Information on Next Steps
Peskov, addressing the continuation of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, emphasized that there is currently no concrete information regarding the next round of discussions. When asked if Russia still considers Budapest, the capital of Hungary, an acceptable venue for talks, Peskov responded, “Currently, no discussions are being held about that.”
2022 Istanbul Agreements No Longer Relevant
Regarding the 2022 Istanbul agreements, Peskov clarified that these agreements no longer meet the requirements of the changed situation. “Reality has completely changed,” he asserted, indicating a shift in the geopolitical landscape since the initial agreements.
No New Meeting Request Between Putin and Trump
On the possibility of a new meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump, Peskov stated that Moscow has not received any new requests for such a meeting. Last August, Putin and Trump met in Anchorage, Alaska, for approximately three hours. Trump had proposed Budapest for their next meeting, a suggestion Putin had welcomed.
History of Peace Talks: From Belarus to Istanbul and Geneva
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine initially began in February 2022, with early discussions taking place in Belarus, followed by several rounds in Istanbul. The Russian delegation was led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinskiy, while the Ukrainian delegation was headed by David Arakhamia, Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary group. The Istanbul negotiations resulted in a draft agreement that included conditions for Ukraine’s neutrality and non-alignment with any military blocs. However, these agreements were not fully implemented by Kyiv and its Western allies, with various international actors playing roles in the process.
Recent Trilateral Talks in Geneva
Negotiations resumed in 2025, with three more rounds held in Istanbul. These discussions led to some humanitarian agreements, including the largest prisoner exchange since the conflict began, but failed to achieve a fundamental resolution to the conflict. Trilateral talks involving representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. recommenced on February 17-18, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland. The first day of these talks lasted about six hours, and the second day approximately two hours. Medinskiy described these negotiations as difficult but business-oriented, and indicated that a new meeting would be held soon.
