On Monday, representatives from Russia and Ukraine came to the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, starting their second round of peace talks since last year, after the fighting increased significantly. The talks took place one day after Ukrainian forces launched an air strike on Russian nuclear-capable bombers far within Russia’s borders. Before these talks began, the atmosphere was tense, since both countries seemed unable to reach any agreements.
Officials from Turkey opened the palace to both teams and greeted them, though the talks, which were meant to start at 10:00 GMT, were delayed without any known explanation. It was confirmed by Vladimir Medinsky that Moscow had received the Ukrainian peace proposal. It is not clear if Russia gave Kyiv their explanation in exchange. Leading Ukraine’s peace talks is its Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
It is the second time the negotiators have gathered together, since their May 16 meeting ended in the biggest swap of prisoners in the war and a lack of progress on stopping the fighting. Officials in Ukraine understand Moscow’s approach to be an attempt to force surrender, and Kyiv strongly disagrees. Meanwhile, Russia, after recent quick successes in the war, threatens Ukraine that if it does not agree to a peace deal on Moscow’s terms, it may lose more territories.
A Ukrainian official informed Reuters just before Monday’s session that Kyiv was ready to make significant changes for peace only if they were met by Moscow’s real effort to compromise. At the same time, Russia’s internal unrest increased, with online figures who support the war urging strong retaliation and the use of 472 drones in a single attack, which was the greatest amount recorded in the war.
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