15
May
May
UKRAINE AND RUSSIA HOLD EXPLORATORY TALKS IN TURKEY AS GLOBAL COMMUNITY PUSHES FOR PEACE
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CapitalTimesNews / 4 days
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Officials from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul, Turkey, for exploratory talks aimed at ending their three-year-old war. The talks, the first between both countries in three years, were held at a middle-level diplomatic rung, with Russia represented by several hardliners, including a close aide to President Vladimir Putin, a military intelligence head, and other hawks in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Turkey attending a meeting of NATO officials in Anatolia, dismissed the Russian delegation as merely “decorative,” casting doubt on Moscow’s commitment to genuine negotiations. “The next steps in the peace process would be decided after my upcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” Zelenskyy said. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the talks, despite Ukrainian demands for his presence. Instead, a Russian delegation arrived in Istanbul, sparking uncertainty over whether any meaningful discussions would take place. The talks come amid growing pressure from the international community, with the European Union and the United States threatening to enhance sanctions against Russia if it fails to make progress in ending the war. American President Donald Trump, who had hinted at the prospect of encouraging results from the talks, said he would make a stopover at the talks if leaders of both countries were participating. The war, which began in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, citing hostile security actions and NATO’s expansion near its borders, has resulted in an estimated 5,000 weekly human casualties and widespread destruction. Trump has long said that he would end the war, but the terms of the ceasefire talks remain unclear. The conflict has deep roots in the complex history between Russia and Ukraine, both of which were part of the defunct USSR. Tensions built between them after NATO allegedly supported Ukraine’s ousting of its pro-Russian government and accelerated its quest to join NATO, much to Russia’s dismay. Despite the challenges, diplomatic efforts continue, with the global community pushing for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, efforts by the UN Security Council to resolve the war have been scuttled by Russia’s veto power, alongside China, Britain, France, and America.