Russia and Ukraine to meet in Istanbul, expectations of progress low

Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv will be in Istanbul today for what could be their first direct meeting on the conflict in Ukraine since 2022, but the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves little hope for progress in ending the war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed expectations for the peace talks after Moscow sent a low-profile delegation and both sides traded insults ahead of the negotiations, initially slated for yesterday. "I want to be frank... we don't have high ex