May 19th 2025.
The recent direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were seen as a promising step towards resolving the ongoing war between the two nations. However, the negotiations in Istanbul on May 16th quickly proved to be a disappointment, lasting only two hours before it was clear that they had failed. This outcome was not unexpected, despite the agreement to exchange prisoners.
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, these talks seemed to be more of a tactic to delay or avoid addressing the issue at hand. It's not hard to understand his motives, as he had been facing increased pressure after a summit in Kyiv where European leaders came together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to show their support. Zelenskyy, who had recently been snubbed by US President Trump, did not want to further provoke him and hence chose to meet in Turkey instead. This move also served as a challenge to Putin, inviting him to attend the talks. President Trump himself had not ruled out joining the conversation, even rearranging his schedule in the Middle East if necessary.
However, in the end, Putin declined to attend and sent a lower-level delegation instead. This seems to send a clear message that he has no interest in finding a resolution to the war that he initiated. It's possible that he believes he is in a position of strength and can dictate the course of the conflict.
This situation serves as a lesson to global players, particularly President Trump. It's important to not blindly support the aggressor at the expense of the victim. The US's approach to the issue, entrusting it to an inexperienced diplomat, has also proven to have its drawbacks. This has put the White House in an uncomfortable position, with some politicians calling for tougher sanctions against Russia to cut off their funds for the war. There have even been talks of resuming arms deliveries to Ukraine to pressure Russia to come to the negotiating table. The European Union has also been working towards this goal, but it's easier said than done when the US, under Trump's leadership, has shifted the blame onto Ukraine and the EU instead of Russia.
Interestingly, just a day before the summit, Trump declared that "nothing will happen" on the issue unless he meets with Putin. However, he did not reveal any plans for resolving the conflict if such a meeting were to take place. This raises the question of whether Trump can be convinced to support Ukraine and its European allies instead of siding with Putin. It's concerning that he believes only a meeting with Putin can yield results. Regardless of any progress made in the diplomatic realm, the fact remains that Russian attacks are still ongoing. The immediate need is for a ceasefire to be put in place to prevent further bloodshed.
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