Second Round of Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Begins in Istanbul
Delegations from Ukraine and Russia convened in Istanbul to initiate the second round of peace negotiations aiming to halt the three-year conflict. This pivotal meeting follows a significant escalation in hostilities, including a recent surprise Ukrainian attack on multiple Russian airbases stretching across thousands of kilometers.
Ukraine's Strategic Strike on Russian Airbases
Ukraine executed a coordinated drone strike on four Russian military airbases located in the Arctic, Siberia, and the Far East—over 7,000 kilometers from Ukrainian territory. Ukraine claims the operation destroyed more than 40 Russian warplanes, marking the largest assault on Russian soil since the conflict began.
The strike, described by Ukraine's security service chief Vasyl Maliuk as "a major slap in the face for Russia's military power," involved complex logistics spanning three time zones and took more than eighteen months to prepare.
Russian Response and Escalation of Drone Attacks
In retaliation, Russia launched an unprecedented wave of drone attacks, employing 472 drones in a single day to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. This represents the highest level of drone assault since the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022.
Context of the Ongoing Negotiations
Despite intensified fighting along a front line extending nearly 1,000 kilometers, both sides approached the talks with cautious optimism. The initial round of talks on May 16 yielded limited progress, agreeing solely on a large prisoner exchange without advancements toward resolving the war.
Efforts to establish a ceasefire have repeatedly faltered, with Ukraine accepting the proposal but Russia effectively rejecting it.
Key Figures and Mediation
The peace discussions were chaired by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with assistance from Turkish intelligence officials. Ukraine's delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Russia was represented by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin.
Current Battlefield Situation
- Russian shelling in the Kherson region resulted in three deaths and 19 injuries, including two children.
- Missile strikes near Zaporizhzhia caused five fatalities and nine injuries.
- Russia's defense ministry reported shooting down 162 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, including Crimea.
- Ukraine claimed to have damaged 52 out of 80 Russian drones launched during the same period.
Political Statements and Future Implications
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the recent airbase operation as "brilliant," asserting such setbacks could drive Russia toward diplomatic negotiations. He emphasized that Russia must fully comprehend the consequences of its losses to encourage meaningful dialogue.
Conversely, Russian state media gave minimal emphasis to Ukrainian strikes, focusing instead on Russian defensive actions.
Zelenskyy cautioned that should the Istanbul talks fail to produce substantive results, stronger international sanctions against Russia would be necessary.
