While U.S. President Donald Trump has exerted significant pressure on Kiev to have Ukraine attend the direct negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, there are signs that, with Trump occupied otherwise, Kiev is digging in its heels. Russia has tried to keep the issues that led to the conflict on the table and the parties are scheduled now to address the stated concerns of both sides, as submitted to both sides at the June 2 meeting.
On June 13, while attending a Global Security Forum in Prague, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was asked by Radio Liberty about the third round of direct talks. He provided a deal-killer answer: “Ukraine has no interest in continuing talks with Russia, if there is not a concrete discussion with them about a ceasefire.” What constitutes a ceasefire? He explained that it is when “the occupiers withdraw their troops.” Displaying little interest in the difficult work on the terms of a ceasefire, he stated that “we are interested in a meeting at the level of the Presidents. And we are prepared for such a meeting. After that, we’ll see.”
Following that performance, on July 14, Ukraine’s acting president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Newsmax that Russia only delivered ultimatums at Istanbul. Offering no compromises, he explained, it showed that they have no interest in a negotiated peace. What was Kiev’s compromise? “Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate with the Russian delegation is, in itself, a major concession and act of compromise.”
