On Monday, Ukrainian and Russian delegations convened in Istanbul for their second round of direct peace talks since 2022, to negotiate an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both parties presented diverging positions during these negotiations, underscoring the difficulty in reaching a comprehensive peace accord.
The Times reports.
Ukraine’s Roadmap for Peace
Ukraine’s delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for lasting peace in Ukraine. Their proposal includes:
The Times of Israel/Reuters +2, Bloomberg =1 and Times of Israel/Reuters=2 an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as well.
Return of prisoners and Ukrainian children taken by Russia into Russian-controlled areas.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin held an informal summit.
Post-agreement, there will be no restrictions placed upon Ukraine’s military strength.
Reject international recognition of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory.
Reparations claims from Russia must be filed.
Territorial negotiations to begin from current frontlines. Wikipedia/Reuters for details
+4 The roadmap seeks involvement from U.S. and European nations in ending this three-year conflict, the largest since World War II. Russia Has Maintained Its Demands
Russia, represented by Kremlin advisor Vladimir Medinsky, has held firm to their demands:
Ukraine recently declared their intention to withdraw from four annexed regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – that were annexed during 2014.
Ukraine has pledged its allegiance to neutrality and rejected NATO membership aspirations.
Recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken over by Moscow forces stands in stark contrast with Ukraine’s position, particularly regarding territorial integrity and military sovereignty.
Escalated Tensions
The talks took place amid escalated military tensions. Over the weekend, Ukraine launched “Operation Spider’s Web”, a large-scale drone offensive targeting five Russian airbases which damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian military aircraft – including strategic bombers – while Russia conducted retaliatory strikes using 479 drones and missiles resulting in at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers being killed and 60 being injured according to reports by New York Post.
International Involvement
Under President Donald Trump, the United States has played an instrumental role in mediating talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reiterated the United States’s dedication to reaching lasting peace while emphasizing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine as key steps to reaching it. These comments can also be found on ABC News +1 New York Post
Even with renewed dialogue, significant progress remains elusive. Differing positions underscore the complexity of this conflict and present hurdles to finding an acceptable resolution that both parties agree on.
As negotiations continue, the international community eagerly anticipates any breakthrough that would pave the way to long-term peace in the region.