Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in Istanbul on Friday for what was billed as their first direct peace talks in more than three years.

Talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war are facing challenges, as plans for direct discussions between the countries' leaders, including potentially President Donald Trump, have scaled back. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are leading the American delegation in Turkey,

There is no reason to think that Trump will acquiesce to Putin’s list of demands. In fact, he has repeatedly voiced frustration with the lack of progress in the talks and has threatened to walk away, as Russia continues to creep forward, inch by bloody inch, in a long war of attrition with no end in sight.