Ukraine is gearing up for high-stakes peace talks with Russia in Istanbul.
A show of commitment
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that his country will send a top-level delegation, led by the Defense Minister, to the Turkish city. This move comes as a response to Russia’s recent proposal for peace negotiations. Zelenskyy slammed Russia for sending low-ranking officials to previous talks, saying it showed a lack of seriousness.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin proposed the talks but won’t attend, further indicating a lack of commitment to a ceasefire. Despite this, Ukraine is ready to negotiate directly at any time. Zelenskyy is pushing for more international pressure and sanctions on Russia.
A long road to peace
Ukraine isn’t the aggressor in this war and has tried to compromise through diplomatic channels. The Ukrainian delegation will be in Istanbul for two days.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Antalya, Turkey, for NATO meetings. He is skeptical about the upcoming Ukraine-Russia talks, saying he doesn’t expect much unless Putin and Trump talk directly. Rubio will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister and the Ukrainian delegation on Friday.
The source for this information is bbc.