Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv shall be in Istanbul Friday, Might 16, for what might be their first direct assembly on the battle in Ukraine since 2022, however the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves little hope for progress in ending the warfare.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed expectations for the peace talks after Moscow despatched a low-profile delegation and each side traded insults forward of the negotiations, initially slated for Thursday. “I need to be frank… we do not have excessive expectations of what is going to occur tomorrow,” Rubio stated.
US President Donald Trump had earlier additionally appeared to concede that progress in Turkey was unlikely, saying there could be no motion in direction of ending the warfare till he met Putin. “I do not consider something’s going to occur, whether or not you prefer it or not, till he and I get collectively,” Trump advised reporters on Air Power One.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky additionally stated he didn’t anticipate a breakthrough, accusing Moscow of being “not severe” about ending the warfare.
Putin final week proposed direct negotiations between the 2 sides, however declined to reply when Zelensky challenged him to attend the talks in individual. The Russian aspect is being led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hawkish adviser to Putin who has questioned Ukraine’s proper to exist and led failed talks in 2022 at first of the warfare.
Ukraine’s delegation shall be led by Protection Minister Rustem Umerov, together with a few dozen deputy-level officers.
Setting the tone
Trump, who’s eager to push Russia and Ukraine in direction of a peace settlement, stated he was holding open the potential of touring to Turkey on Friday if there was any significant progress. A Turkish overseas ministry supply stated talks would proceed Friday in a number of codecs.
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“Trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey are on the agenda” for Friday and there may also be talks between US, Ukrainian and Turkish officers, the supply stated.
In a televised briefing for Russian media in Istanbul, Medinsky stated: “Tomorrow morning, actually from 10 am, we shall be ready for the Ukrainian aspect, which has to point out as much as the assembly.” Exterior the Russian consulate in Istanbul, Medinsky advised reporters Russia noticed the talks as a continuation of failed 2022 negotiations and that he was prepared for “potential compromises.”
“The delegation is dedicated to a constructive strategy, to discovering potential options and factors of contact. The objective of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian aspect is to ultimately set up long-term peace by eliminating the foundation causes of the battle,” he stated.
Zelensky stated Russia had despatched a “dummy” delegation, whereas Russian overseas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova referred to as the Ukrainian president a “clown” and “loser.”
Zelensky held a gathering with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday and had expressed hope that talks with Russia would start on Thursday night. After the assembly, Zelensky stated that Russia was “not taking the actual negotiations very significantly” and stated he had despatched a high-level delegation “out of respect” for Erdogan and Trump.
‘Avoiding peace’
Rubio stated he would meet in Istanbul with Ukrainian International Minister Andriy Sybiga and {that a} lower-level US official would meet the Russians.
Forward of the deliberate talks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Putin “should pay the value for avoiding peace” as he ready to attend a European Political Neighborhood (EPC) assembly in Albania on Friday. The EPC, which brings collectively the members of the European Union and 20 different nations, was established in 2022 on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Starmer and Macron shall be joined by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO chief Mark Rutte and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Fee.
Kyiv and its European allies had referred to as for Russia to conform to a 30-day ceasefire earlier than any negotiations, however Moscow rejected the proposal.
Russia needs Ukraine to make huge territorial concessions, giving up much more land than it has misplaced on the battlefield, and has additionally at instances sought the elimination of Zelensky, pledges of army neutrality and limits on Ukraine’s military.
Kyiv and the West reject these calls however Zelensky has conceded that Ukraine may solely get again some territory via diplomatic means.
