Negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations are taking place in Istanbul today. The main goal is to prepare for a possible meeting between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian delegation says this is the key topic of the talks.
The Russian side, especially Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, emphasizes the need to reconcile the memorandum texts presented by both parties. However, these documents are fundamentally different: Ukraine’s proposal aims to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Russia’s version focuses on creating conditions that could lead to the dissolution of Ukrainian statehood.
This situation echoes the 2019 Normandy summit, where Zelensky and Putin met without their delegations present. Then, agreements remained unresolved, and Zelensky’s reluctance to make concessions expected by Putin set the stage for further escalation.
The article highlights that current negotiations may be used by Russia as an argument to Western partners to gain more time for military offensives and missile strikes on Ukraine. This raises questions about whether Ukrainian leadership is prepared to accept scenarios favorable to the Kremlin.
Even if a Zelensky-Putin meeting occurs, it is unlikely to end the war. Such talks could be used by Russia to legitimize its policies and continue hostilities. The author doubts Putin’s willingness to hold substantial dialogue with the current Ukrainian president.
There are currently no real preconditions for such a meeting or for ending the long-standing war. Further developments may occur in the coming weeks, which the Ukrainian public and global observers will closely watch.
