Russians and Ukrainians in Turkey for the first discussions in three years.

On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Istanbul for what was described as their first face-to-face peace discussions in over three years, amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

The meeting expected at the Dolmabahce Palace along the Bosphorus would symbolize diplomatic advancement between the conflicting parties, who had not engaged in person since March 2022, the month after Russia’s invasion.

Hopes for a significant breakthrough, which were already minimal, took another hit on Thursday when Trump declared that progress would not occur without a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Trump, concluding a Middle East trip and returning to Washington, stated on Friday that he would meet the Russian leader “as soon as we can arrange it.”

In Istanbul, a Reuters journalist observed the initial vehicles reaching the negotiation site, such as white minibuses and a number of black cars. A source from the Turkish Foreign Ministry indicated that discussions had commenced among officials from Turkey, the U.S., and Ukraine.

Turkish sources indicated that the Ukrainian and Russian delegations would convene with Turkish officials in attendance, starting at 0930 GMT. On Sunday, Putin suggested having direct discussions with Ukraine in Turkey, but rejected a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet face-to-face, opting instead to send a group of mid-level officials to the negotiations.

Zelenskiy stated that Putin’s choice to skip the event and instead send what he termed a “decorative” entourage indicated that the Russian leader was not genuinely committed to resolving the war. Russia charged Ukraine with attempting “to stage a performance” regarding the discussions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled to Istanbul on Friday as well, informed reporters the previous night that a significant breakthrough was improbable, considering the caliber of the negotiating teams.

“I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m 100% wrong. I hope tomorrow the news says they’ve agreed to a ceasefire; they’ve agreed to enter serious negotiations. But I’m just giving you my assessment, honestly,” he said.