Negotiations over the Ukraine war: pressure on Putin in Istanbul is increasing!

Negotiations over the Ukraine war: pressure on Putin in Istanbul is increasing!

Crucial negotiations about a possible end to the Ukraine war could take place in Istanbul this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that a Russian delegation will travel to the Turkish metropolis on Thursday, but it is unclear whether President Vladimir Putin himself will travel. This uncertainty raises questions about Russia's willingness to participate in serious talks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to visit Turkey to first speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Zelensky has stressed that Putin must take part in the negotiations as he makes the crucial decisions regarding the war. Political scientist Thomas Jäger comments that the pressure on Russia is currently only verbal and that the unity of the European partners is not important for Russia. Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, explains that Putin's absence in Turkey could be seen as a signal that Russia is not interested in ending the conflict.

Urgency of the discussions

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and European partners put pressure on Russia with an ultimatum, which was ignored. Merz, who has vowed to give Germany back a leading role in Europe, was actively involved in diplomatic initiatives to end the Ukraine conflict. He also held out the prospect of a possible EU Council meeting on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) expresses doubts about Russia's willingness to negotiate and emphasizes that the country continues to push forward military aggression.

The US government is also trying to act as a peace broker. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed pessimism about the talks in Istanbul. He doesn't believe a breakthrough is possible unless Trump and Putin meet in person. Another worrying sign is that the Russian army is making progress on several fronts in eastern Ukraine, underlining the urgency of the negotiations.

International reactions

Trilateral meetings with foreign policy advisors from Germany, France, Great Britain and Poland are planned in the coming days. Merz praises Zelensky for his trip to Turkey, while Putin cancels. Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary John Healey is calling for further sanctions against Putin in order to persuade him to negotiate. However, Merz has expressed skepticism about using frozen Russian assets to promote peace.

The negotiations after February 24, 2022, the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, are characterized by constant fighting. A Russian fighter jet recently entered Estonian airspace, which is considered a serious threat. NRW Interior Minister Reul also warns of increased espionage activities by Russia. Despite the vital talks, the situation remains tense and international partners must make decisive progress to prevent a new setback in Ukraine.

The Turks are calling on both sides to compromise, while the EU ambassador in Moscow is calling for an unconditional ceasefire. It remains to be seen whether the talks in Istanbul will bring significant progress.