Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convene at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye/Handout via Xinhua)
ISTANBUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convened at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office here on Friday for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The U.S. delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, and Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
Representing Ukraine were Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office, Rustem Umerov, defense minister, and Andrii Sybiha, foreign minister.
One photo of the meeting, closed to the press, was released by officials, showing Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chairing the session, accompanied by Ibrahim Kalin, director of the National Intelligence Organization.
Following the trilateral meeting, a separate session will be held between delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye. The Russian delegation will be led by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky.
The talks mark the first direct engagement between Ukrainian and Russian officials since their meeting in Istanbul in March 2022, which concluded without a ceasefire agreement. ■
The convoy arrives at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office for meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convened at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office here on Friday for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Following the trilateral meeting, a separate session will be held between delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
The convoy arrives at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office for meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 16, 2025. Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Türkiye convened at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office here on Friday for the first trilateral meeting ahead of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Following the trilateral meeting, a separate session will be held between delegations from Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
