Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid linge
Russia-Ukraine peace talks to be held in Istanbul amid lingering differences
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a Ukrainian delegation would attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul with a commitment to ending the conflict with Russia
ANKARA/ISTANBUL — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that a Ukrainian
delegation would attend the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul with a commitment
to ending the conflict with Russia, though he would not personally show up at
the negotiating table.
At the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara following talks with
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Zelensky told reporters
that Ukraine would send a delegation to Istanbul.
Zelensky said Ukraine remained committed to dialogue but
expressed doubts about Moscow's intentions, Xinhua news agency reported.
He told reporters that Ukraine did not see "any
decision-makers" from the Russian delegation who will be present at the
talks.
The delegation will be led by Ukrainian Defence Minister
Rustem Umerov, alongside professionals, including military and intelligence
officers, Zelensky remarked, noting that Ukraine is awaiting confirmation from
both Washington and Moscow on the exact schedule for the talks, which are
expected to take place either Thursday or Friday.
On top of that, Zelensky stressed that he is ready for
discussions if an unconditional ceasefire will be discussed at the level of
leaders.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian
delegation and senior aide to President Vladimir Putin, said that his team has
the necessary competencies to conduct negotiations and will focus on
"finding possible solutions" and common ground through a constructive
approach.
Speaking outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, the
diplomat said that Russia views the fresh negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul
as a "continuation" of the peace process disrupted in 2022, claiming
that his team's objective is to secure a lasting peace by "addressing the
underlying causes of the conflict".
Addressing reporters separately after a NATO foreign
ministers' meeting in Turkey's Antalya, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
said that both Russia and Ukraine have, in principle, expressed their
willingness for a ceasefire. However, each has its own considerations: Ukraine
favours an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, while Russia maintains that
certain modalities must first be understood and agreed upon.
Fidan said the Ukraine-Russia negotiations have now
reached a certain stage, urging both parties to make concessions and take steps
towards establishing a common peace.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also attending the
NATO meeting, said Washington supports a negotiated settlement.
"We will see what happens over the next couple of
days in that regard, but we want to see progress," he said.
The Istanbul talks follow a proposal by Putin on Sunday
to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine.
Zelensky has previously said he is open to a face-to-face
meeting with Putin.
However, the Kremlin said Putin would not attend the
talks.
The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took
place in Istanbul in March 2022, where the two sides failed to agree to halt
the fighting.
