Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey
The first in three years
Last Friday, May 16th, Russian and Ukrainian officials met for the first time in three years in Turkey. They held talks to end the war.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met face to face on Friday, May 16th, for the first time in three years. They met in an Ottoman palace in Istanbul. The room had there Ukrainian, Turkish and Russian flags. Each side agreed to release one thousand prisoners of war. Talks ended two hours after starting. They also agreed to exchange plans for a ceasefire. Russia demanded Ukraine ceded territory, abandon NATO membership plans, neutral country and cut to its military. Moscow demands Kyiv withdraws from Donestk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, although Russia does not control them at full. According to Russian officials, they were satisfied with the results; Ukrainian officials said otherwise. Turkish Foreign Minister stated that they agreed to join again to hold more talks. Ukrainian President, Volodymir Zelensky, mentioned in Albania that Ukraine’s priority was a ceasefire. They also discussed a meeting between the heads of state. Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, chaired the meeting. However, no agreement was reached. After the talks, Zelensky and European leaders Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. The same day, Ursula Von der Leyven called for more sanctions against Russia. Pope Leo XIV also offered the Vatican to mediate. Russia also returned the bodies of soldiers to Ukraine.
Source: Lord of War
Russia and Ukraine met on March 2022. Moscow annexed the four oblasts back in late 2022, following a referendum many describe as sham.
They are meeting under pressure of US President Donald Trump.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia made “new and unacceptable demands”, like Ukraine withdrawing troops from some territories in exchange for a ceasefire. There will be a prisoner exchange in an unspecified date. If the exchange takes place, it will be the biggest since the invasion began. Ukraine has called for sanctions on Russia should it refuse the ceasefire. Trump has proposed a thirty day ceasefire. Russia states that these negotiations are a continuation of the 2022 talks.
Source: Mediterranean War
Some fear that Russia may use diplomacy to distract for a ceasefire and starve the sanctions. If Moscow refuses ceasefire, new sanctions may come against bank and energy sectors. Trump has already threatened sanctions if no deal reached.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, stated that the Russian position was “clearly unacceptable”.
If the Turkish Foreign Minister is correct, more talks are expected. Also, many things could depend on talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
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Russia and Ukraine sent delegations to Turkey to engage in talks to reach a ceasefire. They only got prisoner exchanges. The European countries have called for more sanctions on Russia. Ukraine has described the Russian demands as “unacceptable”.
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