Istanbul , 17 May (H.S.): On Friday, Ukraine sought support from Western allies after their first direct talks with Russia in over three years ended without a ceasefire agreement. Russia’s demands were dismissed by a Ukrainian source as non-starters. Amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict, the delegations met for less than two hours in Istanbul following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. While both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly called for stricter sanctions against Russia unless President Vladimir Putin accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal from Trump.
Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s readiness for immediate peace efforts and the need for global support to hold a firm stance against Russia. In response, Russia expressed satisfaction with the discussions but insisted that terms of a ceasefire need to be established before agreeing to one. Lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky indicated that both parties would outline their visions for a ceasefire in further negotiations.
The talks, which took place in a calm atmosphere with Ukrainian delegates in military fatigues and Russians in suits, did not yield a concrete timeline for future meetings. A request for U.S. representation during the talks was reportedly rejected by Russia. Medinsky pointed out that Russia is prepared to continue its military efforts indefinitely, referencing historical conflicts of prolonged duration, further indicating Russia’s unwillingness to make significant concessions without secure terms.
A Ukrainian source reported that Russia’s demands during negotiations were unrealistic and included ultimatums for Ukraine to cede territory to achieve a ceasefire. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer deemed the Russian position unacceptable, and European leaders, alongside Ukraine and the U.S., are aligning their responses. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s plans for new sanctions against Russia.
Russia views the latest talks with Ukraine as a continuation of previous negotiations from 2022. However, the conditions discussed would disadvantage Ukraine, including demands for significant military cuts and territorial concessions, which Kyiv deems unacceptable and capitulatory. Ukraine is instead seeking security guarantees from global powers, particularly the U.S.
Despite a claim of good results from talks, including a significant prisoner exchange and potential ceasefire options, the next steps remain uncertain. Putin’s proposal for direct talks in Turkey was challenged by Zelensky, who invited him to meet in Istanbul. Hopes for a breakthrough diminished when Trump, on a Middle East tour, indicated no progress would occur until he and Putin met. The Kremlin stated that a meeting between Trump and Putin was crucial for advancement, requiring extensive preparation.
Ukraine and Russia tentatively agreed to another meeting, as Turkey’s foreign minister noted. Ukrainian Defence Minister Umerov suggested that the next discussions should involve leader-level talks, and Russian negotiator Medinsky acknowledged the request for direct Zelenskiy-Putin dialogue.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
