Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly expected to skip peace talks with Russia, following a series of meetings with world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The decision comes amid differing demands from both sides, making a peaceful resolution challenging.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to skip the peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, instead sending a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. This decision comes after Zelenskyy expressed doubts about Russia’s intentions to end the war.
The talks, which mark the first direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since 2022, will feature Vladimir Medinsky, a longtime aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, representing Russia. Zelenskyy criticized Putin for not attending the talks himself, calling it “unserious” and “disrespectful”.
The situation of the Ukraine president seems vague as Zelenskyy doubts Russia’s intentions to end the war, citing the low-level representation from the Russian side.
– *Delegation Members*:
Ukraine’s delegation will include professionals, military, and intelligence officers, but exclude the head of the Security Service, Vasyl Malyuk, and the Chief of the General Staff, Andriy Hnatov.
– *International Support*:
US Secretary of State supports a negotiated settlement, while French Foreign Minister pushes for an urgent and unconditional ceasefire.
– *Putin’s Proposal*:
The talks follow a proposal by Putin to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine, which was backed by US President Donald Trump.
It’s worth noting that the timing of the talks is still being finalized, but they’re expected to take place soon, potentially on Thursday or Friday. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hopes the Istanbul meeting could mark a turning point in the conflict, but both sides will need to make concessions for substantive talks to occur.
Recent peace talks have seen some movement, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a primary host country for negotiations. However, the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy deteriorated after a US-Russia summit, culminating in a meeting where US officials asked Ukrainians to leave midway through.
## Challenges to go for the Peace;
The road to peace remains fraught with challenges, given the vastly different positions of Russia and Ukraine. With renewed negotiations underway, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the conflict.
## Key challenges include
– *Diverging Demands*:
Russia’s insistence on recognizing annexed territories and Ukraine’s demand for full withdrawal of Russian troops.
– *Lack of Trust*:
Past agreements have been broken, leading to mistrust between the two sides.
– *International Support*:
Ukraine seeks security guarantees from Western countries, while Russia wants sanctions relief.
### Possible Outcomes
Possible outcomes of the peace talks include:
– *Ceasefire Agreement*:
A temporary ceasefire could be agreed upon, protected by a “coalition of the willing” with troops in Ukraine.
– *Negotiated Settlement*:
A negotiated settlement could involve Ukraine agreeing to neutrality and limits on its military in exchange for security guarantees.
– *Stalemate*:
The talks could end without a breakthrough, leading to continued conflict.
The situation remains fluid, and the outcome of the peace talks is uncertain.
