As Ukraine and Russia gear up for peace talks in Istanbul, Ukraine demands a detailed ceasefire proposal from Russia before sending its delegation. Both countries aim for meaningful dialogue amidst ongoing military tensions.
Ukraine Awaits Details of Russian Ceasefire Proposal Ahead of Peace Talks
Ukraine Awaits Details of Russian Ceasefire Proposal Ahead of Peace Talks
Istanbul prepares to host a second round of negotiations as Ukraine seeks clarity on Russian terms for a temporary truce.
Russia is set to send a delegation to Istanbul on Monday for a crucial second round of peace talks with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Moscow is formulating its conditions for a temporary ceasefire, which will be addressed during discussions in Turkey.
In a show of commitment to diplomacy, Ukraine has stated it will not dispatch its representatives until it receives comprehensive details regarding Russia's ceasefire offer. The initial round of talks earlier this month, involving lower-level official exchanges, yielded significant outcomes, such as the largest prisoner exchange witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion commenced.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed that Ukraine has already provided its own perspective on future steps to Russia, insisting that an unconditional ceasefire is crucial for any substantial negotiations to take place. "We are eager to see these meetings continue as we aim for the resolution of the conflict by the end of this year," Sybiha conveyed during a joint press conference with Turkish Minister Hakan Fidan.
Though Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are unlikely to attend the upcoming discussions, Fidan expressed Turkey's aspirations for a higher-level summit in the future. "We sincerely believe it is time to convene President Trump, President Putin, and President Zelensky at the same table," he remarked.
Peskov noted that Russia would only consider a high-level summit contingent upon tangible advancements in preliminary dialogues. He acknowledged statements from Trump's envoy to Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, who regarded Russian apprehensions regarding NATO expansion as "fair", adding that Ukraine's aspiration to join the military alliance remains unattainable at present. While Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with Russia's attitude, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the negotiation process.
In a related development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently assured President Zelensky that Berlin would support Ukraine’s production of long-range missiles to bolster its defenses against potential future Russian offensives. The Kremlin has warned that lifting existing restrictions on the range of missiles available to Ukraine would signify a dangerous shift in policy and impede efforts to conclude the war.
As the situation unfolds, Russia continues to occupy around 20% of Ukraine’s recognized territories, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
