Ukraine has called for direct talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to hold discussions within weeks. This proposal coincided with a new round of negotiations in Istanbul, where Russia offered brief ceasefires to facilitate the recovery of fallen and wounded soldiers. The ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has devastated large portions of eastern and southern Ukraine.
During the Istanbul talks on Wednesday, Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, stated, “Priority number one is to organise the meeting of the leaders.” Umerov expressed hopes for a summit by the end of August, with the participation of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s President.
The atmosphere surrounding the negotiations remains cautious. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky acknowledged the distance between the two sides’ positions, stating, “We agreed to continue contacts.” He confirmed that both countries had arranged for the exchange of 1,200 prisoners of war each, and Russia offered to return the bodies of 3,000 fallen soldiers to Ukraine. Medinsky emphasized the need for short ceasefires of 24 to 48 hours to allow medical teams to recover the wounded and retrieve the bodies of soldiers.
Turkey, as the host, reiterated its commitment to facilitating a lasting peace deal. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan remarked on the urgency of ending “this bloody war,” which has exacted a heavy toll. He underscored the goal of establishing a ceasefire that would pave the way for peace.
The recent talks follow previous meetings in Turkey, where the sides only managed to agree on prisoner exchanges. The Kremlin has downplayed expectations for a breakthrough, with Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, acknowledging the challenges ahead. “No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult,” he told reporters.
The stark differences in positions between Ukraine and Russia complicate the prospect of negotiations. Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw from regions it claims to have annexed, a condition Ukraine finds unacceptable. Kyiv has stated it will not engage in discussions about territory until a ceasefire is established and maintains that it will not recognize Russia’s claims over occupied regions, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.
As the negotiations unfold, the situation on the ground remains tense. The White House has intensified pressure on Russia to reach a compromise, with Trump announcing a deadline of September for a peace deal, failing to achieve any concessions from the Kremlin despite ongoing communications with Putin.
In the meantime, Russia has escalated its military activities, launching drone strikes across multiple regions in Ukraine. Between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, the Russian military reportedly deployed 71 drones targeting four separate locations, with the Ukrainian air force confirming the attacks. Furthermore, a recent assault on the Sumy region resulted in widespread power outages impacting more than 220,000 people, according to Zelensky.
The upcoming talks in Istanbul represent a critical moment in the ongoing conflict, with both sides navigating a complex landscape of military engagements and diplomatic efforts. The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for the future stability of the region.
