Ukraine Stands Firm: "Peace" Not the Focus
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are grinding to a halt, much like the stalemate on the battlefield. As the delegations gathered in Istanbul for the second round of talks, the serious expressions on their faces hinted that progress was unlikely. Even the Turkish hosts, who were still hopeful on Monday, acknowledged that Russia and Ukraine had different agendas.
The lack of results from the negotiations seems to be of no concern to Moscow, as they exchange empty memorandums without making any constructive progress. That's just a theatrical performance, according to Alexander Baunow, a political scientist, who calls it a "diplomatic show." Both sides are trying to avoid falling out of favor with the USA, especially with President Donald Trump, who has recently taken aim at Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
However, neither side is willing to budge from their respective demands. The memorandums exchanged during the talks are just carbon copies of earlier lists that have not produced any tangible progress. The Russian version, according to a source from the Presidential Administration, serves little purpose beyond providing talking points for Vladimir Medinsky, the delegation leader.
The only agreements that have been reached involve the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of abducted children, along with the Grain Deal of 2022. However, these agreements have primarily been unofficial, and the discussions surrounding a post-war order have taken place in neutral countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.
In light of the Ukrainian attack on Russia's strategic bombers on Sunday, there was a fear that Moscow might respond with force. However, Putin has chosen to maintain silence and focus his ire on "terrorists" who attacked railway bridges in the regions of Bryansk and Kursk, resulting in several deaths[2]. The only agreement reached during the recent talks was on a new prisoner exchange scheduled for this weekend.
Despite the challenges, the need for a ceasefire remains a consensus among international leaders. Turkey's Erdogan has emphasized the need for a comprehensive ceasefire to facilitate meaningful peace discussions[3]. However, the divide between Russia's stance and the international community's push for a ceasefire before negotiations creates tension. European officials advocate for a ceasefire agreement before any peace talks begin[3]. With the positions remaining hard, the third round of talks is likely to be as fruitless as the previous ones.
Enrichment Data:
- Tensions : In addition to the ongoing conflict, the recent Ukrainian attack on Russia's strategic bombers and the subsequent attacks on railway bridges in Bryansk and Kursk regions have increased tensions between the two countries.
- Prisoner Exchange Agreements : Despite the lack of progress on broader negotiations, both sides have reached agreements on prisoner exchanges, with 500 prisoners set to be released this weekend in a swap[4].
- Military Actions : Russia has been repeatedly accused of violating the ceasefire agreement in eastern Ukraine, with issuance of ceasefire violations increasing over the past few months[5]. Ukraine as well has been accused of using heavy weapons in the conflict, a violation of the agreement[6].
The ongoing diplomatic show between Russia and Ukraine, entangled in war-and-conflicts, is largely influenced by politics and general-news, particularly the ongoing tensions with the USA. Despite the lack of constructive progress, the only agreements reached have been on prisoner exchanges and the Grain Deal of 2022. The need for a ceasefire remains a consensus among international leaders, but the divide between Russia's stance and the international community's push for a ceasefire before negotiations creates tension, further complicating politics and general-news.
