Trilateral Talks in Istanbul: Ukraine, Turkey, and U.S. Coordinate Ahead of Russia Negotiations

Ukraine, Turkey, and the U.S. held trilateral talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025, ahead of planned negotiations with Russia. The meeting, which lasted approximately an hour, focused on coordinating positions before the main talks. Ukraine's delegation included Andriy Yermak, Rustem Umerov, and Andriy Sibiga. The U.S. delegation was led by Senator Marco Rubio, who arrived in Istanbul earlier that morning. The absence of Steve Biegun, previously expected, was noted. The composition of the Russian delegation mirrored that of the 2022 Istanbul talks, raising concerns about the Kremlin's intentions. The discussions aimed to align strategies before the four-way meeting with Russia. While the video does not offer concrete outcomes, it highlights the importance of the pre-negotiation talks and the Ukrainian delegation's preparedness.