Ukraine holds off on Istanbul peace talks without Russian proposals, U.S. signals tougher sanctions

Ukraine has resisted pressure from both the U.S. and Russia to commit to peace talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul, insisting that it must first receive detailed proposals from Moscow. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a meeting would only be meaningful if properly prepared and clearly defined, criticizing Russia for failing to provide a memorandum outlining its position.

“Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results,” Zelenskiy said on social media after meeting with Turkey’s foreign minister in Kyiv. He also emphasized that a ceasefire was a prerequisite for any progress toward peace.

While Ukraine remains open to dialogue, Zelenskiy stopped short of confirming participation in Monday’s talks. He did, however, discuss with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan the possibility of a broader summit involving the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the U.S. Erdogan expressed hope that a high-level meeting could contribute meaningfully to peace efforts.

The previous round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16 resulted only in an agreement for a prisoner exchange.

U.S. Sanctions Loom

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, visiting Kyiv, warned that Moscow could soon face harsher U.S. sanctions. He said the Republican-led Senate was preparing a new sanctions bill and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling the peace process. Graham noted that he had spoken with President Trump before his trip, and said Trump expects “concrete actions” from Moscow.

“The game that Putin has been playing is about to change,” Graham stated. “He is going to be hit, and hit hard, by the United States when it comes to sanctions.”

Trump, speaking to reporters Friday, expressed frustration with both Zelenskiy and Putin, calling them “stubborn,” and said he had been surprised by renewed Russian bombings amid efforts to arrange a ceasefire. He made no direct mention of sanctions.

Moscow Pushes for Talks

The Kremlin confirmed that its delegation, led by aide Vladimir Medinsky, will arrive in Istanbul for talks on Monday morning. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said conditions for a temporary ceasefire are under development, and emphasized that Russia remains focused on direct negotiations with Ukraine.

Putin is reportedly seeking written assurances from Western powers to halt further NATO expansion—one of Moscow’s key demands for ending the war. Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, acknowledged that Russia’s concerns about NATO’s eastward growth are “fair” and added that Washington does not support Ukraine joining the alliance.

In response, Peskov welcomed the apparent shift in Washington’s stance.

Uncertainty Over Peace Prospects

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was awaiting Russian proposals before making any commitment to attend Monday’s meeting. “We want to end this war this year,” he said, adding that Ukraine would welcome even a short-term truce, whether for 30, 50, or 100 days.

Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, told the U.N. Security Council that Moscow would consider a ceasefire if Western countries stopped supplying weapons to Ukraine and if Kyiv halted troop mobilization.

Despite continued diplomatic efforts, expectations for the Istanbul talks remain low, with both sides entrenched and key issues unresolved. Still, both Kyiv and Moscow are eager to show President Trump they are cooperating with his peace push—Kyiv seeking more U.S. military aid, and Moscow hoping for eased sanctions.