Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the potential for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia with both Putin and Zelensky, though no breakthroughs were made during three rounds of negotiations in Istanbul.
Negotiations in Istanbul
Three rounds of negotiations held in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine have not resulted in significant progress, but exchanged prisoners and soldiers’ remains show some diplomatic efforts. Ukraine accused Russia of sending low-level officials who could not make crucial decisions.
Trump’s Pressure on Russia
US President Donald Trump has advocated for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, stating that within two weeks a decision could be made on whether peace in Ukraine was possible. He threatened Russia with sanctions if progress was not made.
Russia’s Indifference to Sanctions
Russia has developed a degree of resistance to sanctions, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov, who stated that the country had already adapted to the financial restrictions. President Erdogan announced that neither party was ready for a meeting but maintained that the path to peace remained open.
