Are Ukraine-Russia talks about how ‘not’ to speak peace?

The primary face-to-face talks between Ukraine and Russia in over three years ended Friday with out a ceasefire settlement, with Kyiv dismissing Moscow’s circumstances as “non-starters” whereas each side agreed to alternate 1,000 prisoners of battle – the most important such swap for the reason that battle started.

The assembly, held in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, lasted lower than two hours. Though the 2 sides agreed in precept to swap 1,000 prisoners of battle every — the most important such alternate to this point — the broader purpose of peace remained elusive.

Russia reportedly launched new and “unacceptable” calls for, together with the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from massive territories, in line with a senior Ukrainian official talking on situation of anonymity. These phrases, by no means beforehand mentioned, have been rejected outright by Kyiv. “Russia’s calls for have been indifferent from actuality,” stated a supply in Ukraine’s delegation.

Divergent Purple Strains

Russia expressed satisfaction with the talks and readiness for additional contacts, however Ukrainian officers revealed Moscow had launched surprising circumstances, together with Ukrainian troop withdrawals from massive occupied areas. “These proposals had by no means been mentioned earlier than,” a senior Ukrainian official informed The Related Press anonymously.

Ukrainian Overseas Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi confirmed Russia made “unacceptable” calls for however stated Kyiv’s delegation maintained its stance calmly. The Ukrainian facet reiterated its give attention to reaching an instantaneous truce and a diplomatic roadmap aligned with US and European proposals.

The Trump Issue

US President Donald Trump, who has pressured each side to finish Europe’s bloodiest battle since WWII, stated negotiations wouldn’t progress till he meets Vladimir Putin. “Nothing’s going to occur till Putin and I get collectively,” Trump informed reporters in Abu Dhabi. Putin notably skipped the Istanbul talks, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy additionally absent to deride Russia’s delegation as “dummies.”

Zelenskyy instantly rallied Western allies post-talks, urging harder sanctions if Moscow rejects a 30-day ceasefire proposal. He held calls with Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Polish chief Donald Tusk.

A Theater of Diplomacy?

Turkish Overseas Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks, urging members to grab the chance for peace, calling a ceasefire “critically vital.” Whereas each side agreed in precept to fulfill once more, the day’s occasions advised the negotiations served extra as a stage for grievances than a pathway to peace.

Russia’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky had earlier stated readiness for “potential compromises,” with out particulars. In the meantime, Zelenskyy’s staff emphasised they’d solely have interaction in top-level talks with Putin current – a situation the Kremlin continues to disregard.

With the prisoner swap as the only real concrete final result, the Istanbul assembly highlighted how far aside the 2 nations stay after 27 months of battle. As Ukraine pushes for Western-backed options and Russia floats unspecified compromises, the talks appeared much less about making peace than managing its impossibility.