Russia, Ukraine resume peace talks in Istanbul amid escalating cross-border attacks

New Delhi, Jun 2: Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Istanbul for the second round of peace talks, just hours after both sides carried out overnight aerial attacks. The negotiations are taking place at the Ciragan Palace and mark the second such meeting in the Turkish city in recent weeks. The talks follow a major escalation in hostilities. On Sunday, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack deep into Russian territory, targeting multiple military bases. According to Ukrainian officials, the strike destroyed some dozen-plus Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers that serve as key symbols of Moscow’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.

The drone offensive came in response to Russia’s largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine the night before, in which dozens of drones and missiles targeted cities across the country. Ukrainian air defences reported intercepting 52 out of 84 incoming Russian projectiles by early Monday morning. Despite the interceptions, hits were recorded in 12 separate locations.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated that it had intercepted more than 160 Ukrainian drones overnight. The Russian regions of Kursk, Belgorod, and Lipetsk were reportedly among those targeted.

The military escalation casts a shadow over the peace talks, which are being held in the absence of both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The previous meeting between the two sides in Istanbul last month led only to a prisoner swap involving 1,000 detainees and yielded no broader agreement.

Expectations for the current round remain low. Ukrainian officials have expressed concern over the lack of a formal proposal from Moscow, which they consider necessary for productive discussions. Leaked Ukrainian proposals reportedly contain terms unlikely to be accepted by Russia. The recent strike on Russian air bases has further complicated the negotiations. Observers note that the attacks have damaged Russia’s image of strategic invulnerability, with relatively low-cost Ukrainian drones hitting high-value military targets. Meanwhile, both countries continue to endure regular drone and missile attacks, with no sign of a pause in fighting despite the ongoing diplomatic effort.