Ball Now in Kyiv’s Court, as Turkey Says Russia Open to Talks

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that Moscow is open to a new round of peace negotiations with Ukraine, potentially in Istanbul. While Ankara waits for a response from President Zelensky, the international context is heating up with renewed U.S. military aid and escalating Russian attacks.

Russia Signals Readiness for Dialogue

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that Russia has expressed willingness to engage in a third round of direct talks with Ukraine. This development, relayed after Fidan’s meeting with Sergey Lavrov during the BRICS summit in Rio, marks a potential step toward restarting stalled peace efforts.

Istanbul Emerges as Leading Venue

Fidan pointed to Istanbul as the likely venue for renewed negotiations, citing the city’s history of hosting the first two rounds of talks between Kyiv and Moscow. He also noted that other BRICS countries might offer alternatives, but emphasized Istanbul’s credibility as a neutral host.

Preconditions from Moscow

Despite expressing openness, Russia reportedly has preconditions it expects to be met before talks proceed. Fidan indicated that both negotiating teams need to intensify efforts to achieve tangible progress, acknowledging that Moscow believes “certain things must happen” before resuming formal discussions.

Trump Vows to Arm Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington will resume weapons shipments to Ukraine, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities. The decision comes amid heightened Russian drone and missile strikes, and could significantly impact the balance of power on the ground.

Kyiv Presses for Rapid Delivery

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko emphasized the urgency of receiving promised U.S. arms, warning that delays come at a high cost. She stressed that Ukraine’s air defense systems are critically depleted, making immediate delivery of Patriot systems and ammunition essential.

Moscow Downplays Trump’s Pledge

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s announcement, citing a lack of concrete evidence that U.S. arms deliveries have resumed. He said Moscow continues to see conflicting reports and emphasized ongoing European military support as the more active threat.

Medvedev Shrugs Off U.S. Moves

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev labeled Trump’s promises as political “zigzags” and advised ignoring them. Writing on Telegram, he stated that Russia would persist in its “special military operation” regardless of external political rhetoric, echoing the Kremlin’s hardened stance.