Istanbul, Türkiye
CNN
–
The first in-person meeting of Russia and Ukraine of three years began on Friday with hopes dimly lit like the gray Istanbul sky.
And as discussions progressed, the weather brightened, but the outlook for peace was not like that.
Ultimately, the conference between the large prisoner swap (one of many of this war) and two discussion topics for future lectures – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymiazelensky and the outline of the ceasefire was the only artifact at the Dolmabaha Palace in Istanbul, the thin palace of the Dolmabaha Palace in Istanbul.
The issue of ceasefires is when the cumbersome differences are most obvious.
By proposing these consultations last weekend, Russia was able to avoid the ultimate from Ukraine and its allies, sign up for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face major new sanctions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is “ready to agree to a ceasefire today,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Heolyti Taiki told reporters during a hurry-separated briefing late Friday afternoon, suggesting that this was not achieved as Russia’s low-level dependence is “probably limited.”
But that’s not the only obstacle. The Russian delegation was made clear on Friday, and Turkish officials told CNN that an unconditional ceasefire would be on the table and that if Ukraine wanted to silence its guns, Russia would still have to occupy four regions (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Khersia attempted in 2022.
It’s not a new demand, but it’s unacceptable to Kiev, and Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month that Russia is “seeking too much” in the requirements to end the war.
As diplomatic cars slid down the busy streets of Istanbul, our frustration seemed to increase. After meeting both sides shortly before US officials met in person, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Istanbul with a scathing assessment of their outlook.
“It was because they were told there might be a direct involvement between the Russians and the Ukrainians. That was originally a plan,” he told reporters.
“It wasn’t that, or if so, it wasn’t at the level that I wanted.”
And the Ukrainians moved quickly to control the story.
At the Albanian summit, a delegation had appeared in Istanbul before Zelensky, calling a call between President Donald Trump and major European allies.
“Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring about real peace,” Zelensky wrote on social media after the call. However, he also made it clear that Ukraine is not the only one that must add, “If the Russians refuse to make a complete and unconditional ceasefire and refuse to end the killing, severe sanctions must continue.”
Ukrainian officials in Istanbul won similar tones.
“The interim success of today’s negotiations should still be integrated,” first vice minister Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters late in the afternoon. “That means pressure on the Russian Federation must continue.”
There was also a clear effort to emphasize positivity. “If you agree to 1,000 in exchange for 1,000, I think this is already worth it,” said Tykhyi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referring to the agreed swap of prisoners. “This is a major achievement by the Ukrainian delegation.”
But there is no sign of an increase in pressure from the US in the week that Russia once again refuses a ceasefire and ignores calls to send top-level officials to talks, and demands that the US already deems unacceptable.
Instead, Trump has promised to meet with Putin on Friday. “As soon as we can set it up,” he previously claimed, “nothing will happen (in Ukraine) until Putin and I get together.”
And the official Russian rating from Chief Negotiator Vladimir Medinsky kept it simple. “We are happy with the outcome and are ready to continue our contacts.”
