First peace dialogue for years: Negotiations in Istanbul bring hope

First peace dialogue for years: Negotiations in Istanbul bring hope

A result of the talks was the exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war on both sides, the largest since the beginning of the conflict. Despite this progress, the negotiations did not lead to a ceasefire. Russia has emphasized that the talks are aimed at eliminating the "causes of the conflict" while the Ukrainian side is striving to achieve a quick ceasefire, followed by conditions for permanent peace. Talks about a possible summit between the Ukrainian President Selenskyj and the Kremlin chief Putin took place, but remained without tangible results.

international reactions and sanctions

The international reactions to the negotiations are mixed. US President Donald Trump expressed little expectations of the talks and emphasized the need for a meeting with Putin. He blamed Selenskyj for the ongoing war since the Russian attack in February 2022. This was rejected by Selenskyj, who accused Trump of taking on Russian propaganda. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow, however, dampened the expectations of an early meeting between Trump and Putin and put the need for thorough preparation.

The EU also plans new sanctions against Russia if ceasefire should not be reached. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new package with punitive measures, which is directed against the North Stream gas pipelines, among other things. This new EU package is also intended to reduce the price cover for Russian oil as well as other sanctions against the Russian financial sector and the Russian shadow fleet. An already negotiated 17th EU package with sanctions is to be decided next Tuesday.

future negotiations and challenges

Despite the difficult negotiations, interest in diplomatic solutions is preserved. Russia continues to carry out attacks in Ukraine and claims to be open to diplomatic negotiations. However, the Russian demands are often based on conditions that are unacceptable for Kiev, such as the capitulation of Kiev, waiver of territory and missing security guarantees.

The current discussions mainly focus on humanitarian questions, but political negotiations have been hindered in the past of basic differences and a lack of trust between the two countries. The events in Istanbul are therefore considered pioneering for the future development of the conflict situation in Ukraine.

The tensions between the negotiating partners remain tense and the search for a stable peace is still a complex and challenging process that requires a lot of patience and diplomatic skill.