Latest:Russia demanded Ukraine cede land still under Kyiv’s control during talks, source says.see more

Russia demanded during talks in Istanbul that Ukraine must cede land still under Kyiv’s control during face-to-face talks, a source familiar with Friday’s negotiations told CNN.

Asked if Russia demanded that Ukraine fully withdraw from four contested eastern regions, the source said: “Yes.”

Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are the four regions in question, which Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022.

Russia claims these regions but does not have full control over them

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Vehicles begin arriving outside a gate prior to expected talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Dilara Acikgoz)
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Live Updates
Russia and Ukraine officials meet for first direct talks since 2022
By Sophie Tanno, and Olivia Kemp CNN
Updated 9:32 AM EDT, Fri May 16, 2025

Zelensky says Putin was ‘afraid’ to come to Turkey for …
00:38
What we’re covering:
• Peace talks: Russian and Ukrainian officials held face-to-face talks Friday, the first time the two countries have held direct talks at any level in three years. But there have been no signs of a breakthrough – a Ukrainian source said that the Russian delegation demanded that Kyiv give up land under its control

• Who skipped the summit: Notably, neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or Russian President Vladimir Putin were not there, after several days of confusion. Zelensky criticized Putin for not sending “any real decision-makers” for the talks.

• Trump skips the talks, too: Another key figure who was not present is US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly hinted he might upend his Middle East travel schedule to join the negotiations. He’s pushing to meet Putin.

• Fresh sanctions: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to place new sanctions on Moscow following Putin’s no-show. European leaders have been piling pressure on the Russian leader to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

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3 hr 33 min ago
Russia demanded Ukraine cede land still under Kyiv’s control during talks, source says
From CNN’s Victoria Butenko
The Russian delegation at Dolmabahce Presidential Office on Friday.
The Russian delegation at Dolmabahce Presidential Office on Friday. Murat Gok/Anadolu/Getty Images
Russia demanded during talks in Istanbul that Ukraine must cede land still under Kyiv’s control during face-to-face talks, a source familiar with Friday’s negotiations told CNN.

Asked if Russia demanded that Ukraine fully withdraw from four contested eastern regions, the source said: “Yes.”

Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are the four regions in question, which Russia attempted to illegally annex in 2022.

Russia claims these regions but does not have full control over them.

4 hr 13 min ago
Russian delegation lacked a mandate to make important decisions, Ukrainian source says
By CNN”s Victoria Butenko
Now that the Russia-Ukraine talks have ended we’re starting to get some reaction – and the initial signs do not point to any progress.

A Ukrainian source with knowledge of the negotiations said the Russia delegation “did not have a mandate to make important decisions.”

“They are not ready to decide anything meaningful to end the war,” the source said.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, having called for the talks, then decided to skip them, instead sending a team led by a Kremlin aide.

eported, citing the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Parolin said on Friday that the Holy See could be made available for a meeting between Ukraine and Russia so that they could meet and “at least talk” to one another, RAI reported.

The Holy See could be a “very suitable place,” Parolin added.

Pope Leo said on Friday that “the Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace.”