Russia-Ukraine peace discussions doomed before they start
(MENAFN) Diplomatic attention has quickly shifted from Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations to the possibility of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul—potentially the first direct negotiations since spring 2022. Though initially triggered by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to a Western call for a 30-day ceasefire starting May 12, the situation has rapidly evolved into a high-profile international event.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who originally appeared poised to reject talks outright, reversed his position under strong pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Zelensky added strict demands—insisting on immediate, top-level negotiations and threatening additional sanctions if his conditions weren't met.
Despite growing international attention, the likelihood of any real progress in Istanbul is slim for two major reasons.
On the battlefield, Ukraine is struggling. Its forces are holding some defensive ground in Donbass but are weakened by declining morale and manpower. Nevertheless, politically, Kiev behaves as if it's in a position of strength, buoyed by the backing of European allies like the UK, France, and Germany—countries that have so far hindered Washington’s efforts to pursue peace.
Zelensky’s apparent tactic is to placate Trump just enough to avoid fallout without actually committing to genuine negotiations. Kiev shows no real intent to make concessions or fully engage with Moscow diplomatically.
From Russia’s standpoint, there’s little interest in participating in talks that seem orchestrated to deliver a political win for Trump. Russia continues to advance on the battlefield and sees no benefit in halting momentum through a ceasefire. Instead, the Kremlin prefers to test Ukraine’s seriousness through informal channels while avoiding any formal commitments until it gains further military leverage.
The recent exchanges among Kiev, Moscow, and Washington have resembled strategic maneuvering more than diplomacy. Each side aimed to provoke the other into backing out of talks in order to claim the moral high ground. In reality, none appear genuinely committed to negotiating peace at this stage.
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