Military activity has escalated in Ukraine and Russia just days before a planned round of peace talks in Istanbul, raising concerns about the prospects of any immediate breakthrough.
Both sides have exchanged accusations of undermining the diplomatic process. Ukrainian officials say that Russian missile and drone strikes have increased in several regions, while Moscow claims it is responding to what it calls provocations by Ukrainian forces near contested frontlines.
The scheduled peace talks, backed by Turkish mediation, are intended to address key issues including a possible ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and the fate of territories currently under Russian control. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine’s goals remain unchanged: a full withdrawal of Russian forces, the return of captured territory, and the safe repatriation of displaced civilians and abducted children.
Meanwhile, the Russian government has maintained that security guarantees and the recognition of current territorial control are essential conditions for meaningful negotiations. Although both governments have sent representatives to Istanbul, expectations remain cautious.
The international community has expressed concern about the intensified fighting, with diplomats from multiple countries urging restraint and emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only path toward lasting peace.
Observers say that the outcome of the Istanbul meeting may influence the trajectory of the conflict, which has entered its third year and continues to have widespread humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation
