Under fire on front line, Ukrainian soldiers doubt talks will bring peace

Roman, 26-years-old, artillery division commander of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the call sign ‘Cowboy’, prepares to work next to a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer before it fires towards Russian troops, at a position near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

KYIV (Reuters) - While Russian and Ukrainian officials arrived in Turkey for a fresh attempt at direct peace talks, Roman, a 26-year-old Ukrainian artillery commander, raced to man his artillery gun after Russian strikes landed near his position.

The scene on Thursday evening served as a reminder that, on the front line, peace is a distant prospect, even as Russian and Ukrainian officials assembled in Turkey for the first talks since 2022.