Ukraine, U.S. and European Allies Coordinate Next Peace Steps Ahead of Istanbul Talks
Ukraine and its key international partners are ramping up diplomatic coordination ahead of crucial peace talks in Istanbul, as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with U.S. representatives and top European diplomats to align strategies and reinforce support for Ukraine’s peace efforts.
As international attention turns to Istanbul and the potential launch of Ukraine-Russia direct peace negotiations, Sybiha met with U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham in Antalya to align strategies and responses, including contingency plans in case Moscow derails the process, The Gaze reports.
In a statement following the meeting, the Foreign Minister said:
“I met with Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham in Antalya to share President Zelenskyy’s vision of further peace efforts and coordinate positions during this critical week. We discussed in detail the logic of further steps and shared our approaches.”
Sybiha emphasized Ukraine’s support for U.S. diplomatic engagement, including the peace efforts led by President Donald Trump, while urging Moscow to match Ukraine’s constructive stance.
“I reaffirmed Ukraine’s strong and consistent commitment to President Trump’s peace efforts and thanked the United States for its involvement. We are ready to advance our cooperation in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner.”
He also warned that Russia’s continued rejection of ceasefire proposals and diplomatic avenues would not be ignored.
“It is critical that Russia reciprocate Ukraine’s constructive steps. So far, it has not. Moscow must understand that rejecting peace comes at a cost.”
Sybiha also held talks in the Weimar+ format with France, Germany, and Poland.
“We coordinated our next steps, continued cooperation with the United States, and efforts to ensure long-term peace and security in Ukraine and throughout all of our Europe,” Sybiha said.
“I emphasised that pressure on Moscow must be raised in order to force peace — and that this must come hand in hand with the strengthening of Ukraine,” he added.
Sybiha’s visit to Antalya aims to rally Western support and maintain unity ahead of the expected talks in Istanbul, where Ukraine seeks a full and unconditional ceasefire, with mediation by international actors.
As The Gaze reported earlier, European foreign ministers issued a united call for peace in Ukraine on Monday, with several top diplomats urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to engage seriously in negotiations.
Zelenskyy has said that he does not believe that Putin will be brave enough to come to Istanbul for direct talks with him, although he does not completely rule out this possibility.
Read more on the Gaze: Next 10–15 Days Could Be Decisive for Peace in Ukraine, Says NATO Chief Rutte