In what was once billed as a potential turning point in Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II, the first direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022 are unfolding under the shadow of deep skepticism. Hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough dimmed sharply on Thursday as it became clear that neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nor Russian President Vladimir Putin would attend the high-stakes meeting in Istanbul.
Diplomats and observers had seen the summit as a rare opportunity to de-escalate a war that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and reshaped global geopolitics. Instead, the absence of both leaders signals a diplomatic chill—one that suggests neither side is prepared to make the hard concessions needed to halt the grinding conflict.
“The symbolism of their absence is deafening,” said a senior EU diplomat monitoring the talks. “It tells us that real peace remains a distant prospect.”
While lower-level envoys from both countries are present, expectations have been dialed back dramatically. According to insiders, preliminary discussions are focusing on humanitarian corridors, prisoner exchanges, and potential third-party mediation mechanisms—but not the core issues of territorial sovereignty and military withdrawal.
The talks, hosted quietly in Istanbul with Turkish backing, also underscore Ankara’s growing role as a geopolitical mediator. Yet even Turkey’s diplomatic finesse may not be enough to bridge the chasm between Moscow and Kyiv.
“The people of Ukraine are watching. The world is watching,” said a Ukrainian civil society leader outside the venue. “Without leadership at the table, we fear this will be another round of rhetoric, not resolution.”
For now, as the war enters its third year, the road to peace appears longer than ever—haunted by absent leaders and increasingly distant hope.
