Ukraine, Russia head for Istanbul talks as battles rage, cmdr. resigns
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Russia and Ukraine are set to resume peace talks in Istanbul on June 2 amid escalating military tensions, including drone attacks and heavy casualties.
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Russian and Ukrainian delegations attend talks at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2025. (AP)
A new round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 pm Moscow time (10:00 GMT) at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation, continuing his role from the initial talks in May. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's objectives include achieving a "complete and unconditional ceasefire" and securing the return of prisoners.
Russian state news agencies, citing anonymous sources, also confirmed that a Russian delegation was flying on Sunday to Istanbul, on the eve of talks there with Ukraine.
"The negotiating team flew to Istanbul," a source told the TASS news agency following confirmation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kiev was also sending a delegation.
Command resignation amid deadly strike
The upcoming negotiations follow a series of significant military developments.
On Sunday, a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training area resulted in the deaths of at least 12 soldiers and injuries to over 60 others, Kiev said.
Ukrainian ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty resigned later in the day, taking full responsibility for the deadly strike; an incident highlighting growing concerns over the military’s failure to protect its troops during training.
In the Sumy region, Russian forces claimed control of the settlement of Oleksiivka, intensifying concerns over the potential encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the area.
Earlier, two explosions in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk regions near the Ukrainian border killed seven and injured dozens, according to Russian officials, who said the authorities were treating the incidents as "acts of terrorism."
Escalation along the border
Moreover, Russia claims to have captured multiple settlements in recent weeks and has reportedly amassed more than 50,000 troops along the border, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Additionally, Ukraine reported that Russia launched a record 472 drones and seven missiles overnight, marking the largest drone assault since the war began.
Heavy Ukrainian losses reported
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its Tsentr (Center) group of forces has killed more than 510 Ukrainian soldiers in the past day alone.
Tsentr
"Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences," the ministry said in a statement.
It reported that strikes targeted a wide array of Ukrainian formations, including six mechanised brigades, one air assault brigade, two marine brigades, two territorial defense brigades, three national guard brigades, and one special forces brigade, across numerous locations such as Shevchenko, Poltavka, Muravka (Razine), Udachnoye, Dimitrov (Myrnohrad), Yablonovka (Yablunivka), Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), Rusin Yar, Ulyanovka (Malynivka), Petrovskogo (Pazeno), and Alekseyevka (Oleksiivka) in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Zapad, Yug
The Zapad (West) group reportedly killed up to 210 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed three armored fighting vehicles. Meanwhile, the Yug (South) group claimed to have eliminated up to 280 Ukrainian troops, along with three vehicles, three artillery guns, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, and a US-made HMMWV armored vehicle.
Vostok
In the east, the Vostok (East) group reportedly neutralized up to 155 soldiers, two armored vehicles, six motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, an electronic warfare station, and four ammunition depots.
Sever
The Sever (North) group also reported killing over 200 Ukrainian personnel and destroying one armored personnel carrier, six vehicles, five artillery guns, and another electronic warfare station.
Since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia estimates that Ukraine has lost 663 aircraft, 283 helicopters, over 60,000 drones, 609 air defense systems, nearly 24,000 tanks and armored vehicles, and more than 25,000 artillery guns and mortars.
