Ukraine's Cautious Approach to Upcoming Talks with Russia

Ukraine is taking a careful stance before agreeing to a new round of talks with Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has made it clear that they want to see Russia's proposed terms for a ceasefire before sending a delegation to Istanbul. This request comes after previous talks in Istanbul that did not lead to a breakthrough. The meeting, which took place on May 16, ended quickly and failed to produce a ceasefire agreement. The Kremlin, on the other hand, expects both sides to discuss truce conditions during the planned meeting. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed frustration, stating that Russia is not providing clear terms for the talks. He believes Russia is deliberately making the meeting less productive. Ukraine thinks Russia might be using this tactic to avoid meaningful negotiations. This suspicion is based on past behavior and the lack of concrete proposals from Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has not confirmed whether Ukraine will participate in the upcoming talks. He emphasized the need for a clear agenda and proper preparation for the meeting to be successful. Sybiha wants to ensure that Ukraine's delegation has the authority to discuss relevant positions. So far, Ukraine has not received any document outlining Russia's proposals, which is a significant concern for them. During a news conference in Kyiv, Sybiha reiterated Ukraine's desire to end the war as soon as possible. He mentioned that Ukraine is open to discussing a truce, regardless of the duration. This openness was also confirmed during the last meeting between the two countries' delegations. However, Ukraine is cautious and wants to see genuine efforts from Russia before proceeding with the talks. Turkiye has proposed a leaders' summit involving Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and United States President Donald Trump. This summit would be under the direction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Kremlin has indicated that such a meeting could only happen if the bilateral negotiations yield results. Meanwhile, US Senator Lindsey Graham has accused Putin of trying to delay the peace process and expressed doubts about the upcoming talks in Istanbul.