Ukraine and Russia hold brief talks in Istanbul with expectations of a breakthrough being low

A significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is unfolding as a Russian delegation led by President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with a Ukrainian delegation in Turkey for peace talks. The talks, which were initially scheduled to take place on Thursday, have been delayed and are now expected to begin on Friday. The Russian delegation, led by Putin, is expected to meet with a Ukrainian delegation, although the exact composition of the Ukrainian delegation has not been specified. The talks are seen as a crucial step towards resolving the conflict, which has raged on for over three years. However, there are concerns that the talks may not yield any significant breakthroughs unless the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, respectively, are willing to meet and negotiate directly. The US has warned that any progress in the talks will depend on the willingness of the two leaders to engage in direct talks. In the meantime, the conflict on the ground continues, with reports emerging that Russia has captured two villages in eastern Ukraine. The war has had a devastating impact on the region, and any progress in the peace talks will be crucial in bringing an end to the conflict.