Ukraine says Moscow is doing ‘everything’ it could to sabotage peace talks

Ukraine said it did not expect any results from talks with Russia in Istanbul, as it accused the Kremlin of doing ‘everything’ it could to sabotage the potential meeting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results”. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Ukraine said it did not expect any results from talks with Russia in Istanbul unless Moscow provided its peace terms in advance, as it accused the Kremlin of doing “everything” it could to sabotage the potential meeting.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war have accelerated in recent weeks, and both sides met for their first round of direct talks in more than three years last month.

Moscow said it was sending a team of negotiators to Istanbul for a second round on Monday, but Kyiv had yet to confirm if it would attend.

“For over a week now, the Russians have been unable to present the so-called memorandum,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X, referring to a document Russia said it had prepared outlining its conditions for peace.

“For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared,” he added. “Unfortunately, Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results.”

Russia said it would provide the memorandum at the talks in person on Monday. But Ukraine suspected it would contain unrealistic and maximalist demands that Kyiv had already rejected, including that Ukraine cede territory still under its control.

Russia’s invasion in February 2022 triggered the biggest European conflict since World War II.

Tens of thousands have been killed, swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine destroyed and millions have been forced to flee their homes.

At talks in Istanbul on May 16, the two sides agreed to swap documents outlining possible road maps to peace.

But Russia had, for more than two months, rejected calls for a full, unconditional and immediate 30-day ceasefire – an idea first proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that a ceasefire was possible as a result of negotiations, but that talks should focus on the “root causes” of the war.

Moscow typically uses that language to refer to a mix of sweeping demands that have at times included limiting Ukraine’s military, banning the country from joining NATO, massive territorial concessions and the toppling of Mr Zelensky. Kyiv and the West have rejected those calls and cast Russia’s assault as nothing but an imperial-style land grab. Mr Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated at both Zelensky and Putin for not having struck a deal yet.

Despite the recent direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, there has been little sign of movement towards a possible compromise or agreement.

AFP