Delegations from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine arrived in Istanbul on Friday for high-stakes negotiations aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The talks, initially scheduled for Thursday, were postponed without explanation.

Notably, both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend the discussions, leaving negotiations to diplomatic teams. The absence of the two leaders has cast doubt on the potential for significant progress.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tempered expectations ahead of the meeting, stating he "doesn't have high expectations" for a breakthrough. His remarks reflect the persistent tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, as well as the challenges in bridging key divides, including territorial disputes and security guarantees.

The talks, hosted by Turkey—a NATO member that has maintained ties with both Russia and Ukraine—are seen as a critical, though uncertain, step in efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Observers remain cautious, given previous rounds of negotiations that have yielded limited results.