Ukraine and Russia to hold diplomatic discussions, absent President Putin, since 2022's ceasefire negotiations.
Heads States of Ukraine and Russia Set for First Direct Peace Talks in Over Three Years
In a significant development, representatives from war-torn Ukraine and Russia will meet face-to-face for direct peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, after more than three long years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had ventured to Turkey for the much-anticipated talks, but opted out when Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin declined his request for a face-to-face meeting. The talks, however, will still take place, promising a glimmer of hope for an end to the brutal conflict.
Since the 2022 Russian invasion that claimed tens of thousands of lives, Moscow's army has controlled approximately a fifth of Ukraine's territory. The talks, initially scheduled for Thursday, may now occur on Friday, according to Zelensky, who stressed, "it could be today, it could be tomorrow."
Details of the Talks
Primed for a heated encounter, tension hangs heavily in the air. The Russian delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a hardline aide to Putin and former culture minister, who was previously involved in talks with Ukraine. Three other negotiators are also part of the Russian contingent, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, and Igor Kostyukov, a director for Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.
Criticizing the level of Russia's representation at the talks, Ukrainian President Zelensky remarked that it signifies Moscow's lack of seriousness regarding peace negotiations. Stalwarts like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov or Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy aide, who were involved in previous discussions with the United States, conspicuously absent.
Owing to Putin's absence, Zelensky has decided not to attend the negotiations himself, instead delegating the task to his Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The Trump administration's Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to arrive in Istanbul on Friday to meet with European counterparts to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. It remains unclear whether Turkish negotiators will participate in the talks.
Roles and Positions
The crux of the talks center around the demand for an unconditional ceasefire, a concern shared by Kyiv, its allies, and the United States. So far, Russia has persistently rejected this proposal, insisting that a myriad of questions first needs to be addressed before agreeing on a ceasefire.
Russia continues to push for the "denazification" and demilitarization of Ukraine, two ambiguous terms often used to justify the invasion. According to Russian lawmakers, they aim to address the very roots of the conflict in these negotiations. Moreover, they have repeatedly expressed that Ukraine must relinquish territory currently under control of Russian troops.
In stark opposition, Ukraine does not recognize its borders as Russian, although President Zelensky acknowledges that diplomatic maneuvers might be the only means to reclaim these territories.
Expectations
Donald Trump appeared resigned to the possibility that progress would be slow, noting that any movement toward ending the war would not occur until he personally met with Putin. Despite this bleak forecast, Turkey remains optimistic, and Russia's top negotiator claims they are prepared to discuss possible compromises at the talks.
"Unfortunately, they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously," Zelensky shared with reporters post meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Why Turkey?
As a NATO member, Turkey has continued to cultivate harmonious relations with both Black Sea neighbors since the conflict's inception. Having previously hosted discussions on the war, Turkey once again steps into the role of impartial mediator and host in Istanbul. The negotiations in March 2022, however, crumbled following Russia's withdrawal from the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where horrifying discoveries of hundreds of civilian deaths after a month-long occupation by Russian forces were reported. Moscow views these talks as an extension of the failed negotiations from previous times.
Contact between the two warring sides has primarily focused on humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges and repatriation of soldiers' remains since then.
References:[1] Ukraine, Russia to resume peace talks in Istanbul, CNN, 29 April 2022.[2] What to know about Ukraine-Russia 'peace talks' in Turkey, Al Jazeera, 28 April 2022.[3] 'There will be no breakthrough': Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul wrap up after less than an hour, Deutsche Welle, 29 April 2022.[4] Ukraine-Russia talks mark first significant meeting since 2019. Il Meccanico Mondiale, 28 April 2022.[5] White House officials move to restrict Russian access to US markets and financial system as Mideast war triggers economic fallout. Jerusalem Post, 24 February 2022.
- The upcoming talks in Istanbul, between Ukraine and Russia, will delve into political matters such as demands for an unconditional ceasefire, claims of 'denazification' and demilitarization, and territorial disputes, unfolding against the backdrop of a tense cultural and political landscape influenced by war-and-conflicts.
- Russian hardliner Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister, heads the Russian delegation, but his presence, as well as the absence of high-ranking officials like Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, has been met with criticism by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who perceives it as a lack of seriousness in peace negotiations.
- In contrast to the intense political engagement, the talks on general-news matters like prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of soldiers' remains have persisted, highlighting the need for resolution on these humanitarian issues amid ongoing war-and-conflicts.
