Top U.S. Senator Marco Rubio cast doubt on the potential for imminent progress in Ukraine-Russia peace talks set to take place in Turkey, asserting that direct engagement between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is essential for a meaningful breakthrough. Rubio’s remarks followed a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in southern Turkey, where he emphasized, “I don’t think we’ll have a breakthrough until President Trump and President Putin interact directly on this topic.”
Zelensky Criticizes Russian Delegation, Challenges Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s participation in the
Istanbul talks but lambasted Moscow for sending a “low-level” delegation.
Russia’s team is led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who insisted the
group has “all necessary competencies.” Zelensky, after meeting Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, accused Russia of showing
“disrespect” to both Erdoğan and Trump by not sending higher-ranking officials.
He reiterated his challenge to Putin: “If he’s not afraid, let him sit down
with me.”
Trump’s Role and Uncertainty Over Talks
Donald Trump, currently visiting the Middle East, echoed Rubio’s sentiment,
stating, “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” He
initially suggested he might attend the talks if “appropriate” but later
indicated he would likely return to Washington. The Istanbul negotiations,
initially slated for Thursday, faced delays, with reports suggesting a Friday
rescheduling. The Kremlin confirmed Putin would not attend, calling the talks a
“continuation” of failed 2022 discussions.
Stakes and Stalemates
The negotiations mark the first direct Ukraine-Russia talks since 2022, when
discussions collapsed over Russia’s demands for Ukrainian neutrality, military
downsizing, and abandonment of NATO aspirations—terms Kyiv rejects as
surrender. Moscow now controls roughly 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, and
recently claimed capture of two villages in eastern Donetsk.
International Pressure Mounts
U.K. Defence Minister John Healey, alongside German counterpart Boris
Pistorius, urged allies to intensify sanctions on Russia. “The world must put
pressure on Putin to end this war,” Healey stated, emphasizing the need to
bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
With Kyiv’s delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Russia’s team
anchored by Medinsky, expectations remain low. Analysts warn that without
top-level U.S.-Russia diplomacy, the talks may merely entrench existing
stalemates. As global leaders push for de-escalation, the path to peace appears
inextricably tied to whether Trump and Putin—two figures central to the
conflict’s geopolitical dynamics—choose to engage directly.
The world watches as Istanbul braces for a pivotal, if
precarious, diplomatic moment.
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