Ukraine expressed willingness to pursue peace as it resumed high-level negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, aiming to end Europe’s most deadly conflict since World War II.The talks, hosted at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace and facilitated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, followed a recent Ukrainian airstrike on Russian airbases that reportedly damaged 40 strategic bombers—one of Kyiv’s boldest strikes on Russian territory.
This latest negotiation effort comes amid growing international pressure, particularly from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called for direct discussions between Kyiv and Moscow. While a previous round resulted only in a large prisoner exchange, both parties remain divided on core issues.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a NATO summit in Vilnius, reiterated his country’s readiness to work toward peace, emphasizing the need for an unconditional ceasefire, prisoner release, and repatriation of children taken during the war.Russia is expected to submit a peace proposal, though the details have not been made public.
A Ukrainian negotiator called on Moscow to soften its approach and show a willingness to compromise, suggesting progress was possible if Russia moved beyond prior ultimatums.Moscow remains focused on what it calls the “root causes” of the war—a stance that includes limiting Ukraine’s military capability, blocking NATO accession, and securing territorial gains—positions Kyiv and its allies reject.
The Kremlin continues to oppose direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with some of Putin’s aides questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy and advocating for political change in Ukraine. Leading Russia’s delegation is Vladimir Medinsky, a longtime Putin associate known for his hardline views. Ukraine’s team is headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, considered pragmatic despite facing domestic criticism over alleged improprieties.
Ahead of the Istanbul talks, Ukrainian officials engaged with UK, German, and Italian counterparts. Kyiv is pressing for firm Western security commitments, such as NATO-style protections, which remain a point of contention with Moscow.Despite military setbacks and Russian gains, particularly in the Sumy region, Ukraine has indicated a willingness to recover some occupied areas through diplomatic channels rather than continued combat.
Source : https://punchng.com/
