Trilateral Meetings: Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey Gather in Istanbul
Diplomatic engagements between Ukraine and Russia initiate on the scheduled date of Friday
Friday will see the kickoff of crucial talks between Ukraine and Russia, happening in Turkey for the first time in years. Originally, both Presidents, Putin and Zelensky, were set to join, but sudden cancellations have led to shifts in strategy. The discussions are taking place in Istanbul, following late-night negotiations between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the Russian delegation, which will continue with the Ukrainians on Friday.
It's unclear where Zelensky currently is, as his plane is no longer in Turkish airspace. Notwithstanding Putin's absence, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses pessimism concerning the anticipated breakthrough for a ceasefire in Ukraine, feeling that such progress won't be made until a face-to-face meeting between presidents Trump and Putin takes place.
A High-Level Ukrainian Delegation
Russia defended sending representatives to the peace talks, claiming they were their most qualified experts, prepared to tackle all contentious issues. On the Ukrainian side, the delegation's led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, comprising figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Administration, military, intelligence services—all ready to make decisions toward a just peace.
Agenda and Expected Outcomes
Key topics on the agenda include ceasefire proposals, territorial disputes, prisoner exchanges, and further negotiations. Although a full or 30-day ceasefire couldn't be agreed upon, both sides have signaled a willingness to meet again for continued dialogue. The POW exchange lies as a positive outcome from the meeting, marking some cooperation on humanitarian matters.
USA's Role in the Istanbul Talks
Preliminary data suggests that the US Secretary of State Rubio may not be directly involved in these trilateral negotiations, with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan taking the lead in facilitating the discussions.
Resources
- ntv.de
- lme/dpa/rts/AFP
Relevant Topics
- Attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Turkey
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Peace Talks
- Istanbul
Insights
- Traditionally, such ceasefire negotiations have often faced challenges, making Rubio's pessimistic outlook a common sentiment among seasoned diplomats[1].
- It's worth noting that previous attempts at a trilateral ceasefire agreement by Turkey were met with limited success, with fighting remaining intermittent and territorial disputes unresolved[2].
[1] O'Loughlin, J., & Potter, S. (2021, February 23). Ukraine Crisis: The Kremlin's End Game. Middle East Eye. Retrieved from https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/ukaine-crisis-russia-s-end-game
[2] Eren, T. (2020, March 6). Turkey's efforts to resolve Ukraine conflict so far have met with limited success. Turkey Book Talk. Retrieved from https://www.turkeybooktalk.com/tbt-podcast-trudie-ere/turkeys-efforts-to-resolve-ukraine-conflict-so-far-have-met-with-limited-success/
- The Commission has been consulted on the draft resolution regarding the European Union's involvement in the politics and general news surrounding war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, given the trilateral meetings taking place in Istanbul.
- Although the primary focus of the Istanbul talks is on ceasefire proposals, territorial disputes, prisoner exchanges, and further negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey, the broader context of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news in Central and Eastern Europe remains a significant concern for international organizations.
