The peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ends
Ukraine and Russia conclude their most recent series of direct peace negotiations in Istanbul. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine concluded their most recent peace discussions on Monday in Turkey, lasting just over an hour, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian state media. During his address in Vilnius, Lithuania, Zelenskyy stated that both parties “exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war.”
Anticipations were muted regarding any significant advancement toward resolving the protracted conflict, particularly following a series of remarkable assaults over the weekend. Officials in Kyiv reported that a sudden drone strike on Sunday resulted in damage or destruction of over 40 warplanes at air bases located deep within Russia, encompassing the distant Arctic, Siberian, and Far East regions, which are situated more than 7,000 kilometres (4,300 miles) from Ukraine.
The intricate and unparalleled operation, executed concurrently across three time zones, required over a year and a half of meticulous preparation and was described as “a major slap in the face for Russia’s military power,” according to Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the Ukrainian security service who orchestrated its planning. Zelenskyy described it as a “brilliant operation” that is poised to be recorded in history. Ukrainian officials report that the operation resulted in the destruction or significant damage to almost one-third of Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet.
On Sunday, Russia launched a record 472 drones at Ukraine, marking the largest such assault since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022, according to Ukraine’s air force. This action appears to be a strategic attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. This incident forms a component of a recently intensifying series of strikes targeting civilian zones in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy announced in Lithuania that preparations for a new release of prisoners of war were underway following the Istanbul meeting. The prior direct negotiations on May 16 resulted in a reciprocal exchange of prisoners, with 1,000 individuals from each side being traded. Ukraine has provided Russia with an official list of children it claims were forcibly deported and need to be returned, according to Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office.
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, presided over the peace negotiations held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, a historic residence from the Ottoman Empire. The discussions were intended to address the ceasefire conditions from both parties, he remarked, noting that “the whole world’s eyes are focused on the contacts and discussions you will have here.” Efforts spearheaded by the United States to compel both parties to agree to a ceasefire have, to date, not succeeded. Ukraine acknowledged that step, yet the Kremlin effectively dismissed it.
The delegation from Ukraine was spearheaded by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, whereas the Kremlin team was under the leadership of Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin. The delegations from Russia and Ukraine, each comprising over a dozen representatives, convened at a U-shaped table, positioned opposite one another, with Turkish officials interspersed between them. A significant number of Ukrainians were attired in military fatigues. Recent statements from high-ranking officials in both nations suggest a significant divergence on the essential prerequisites for halting the conflict.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, stated on Sunday that “Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and prolong the war in order to make additional battlefield gains.” The ongoing conflict has hindered US President Donald Trump’s objective of achieving a swift resolution to the war. Last week, he conveyed frustration towards Putin as Moscow continued its assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night. Trump expressed on social media that Putin “has gone absolutely CRAZY!”
A fresh series of direct negotiations, conducted on May 16 in Istanbul, concluded in under two hours. Despite a consensus on a significant prisoner exchange, no substantial progress was achieved. Ukraine achieved a significant victory by successfully targeting the remote Russian air bases. The official response from Russia was subdued, as the attack received minimal attention on state-controlled television networks. On Sunday evening, the Russia-1 TV channel allocated just over a minute to the matter, featuring a concise statement from the Defence Ministry before transitioning to footage of Russian drone strikes targeting Ukrainian positions.
Zelenskyy asserted that the Kremlin’s setbacks would compel it to engage in negotiations, despite its ongoing summer offensive on the battlefield. “Russia must comprehend the implications of its losses.” “That is what will push it toward diplomacy,” he stated on Monday during a meeting in Vilnius with leaders from the Nordic nations and countries along NATO’s eastern flank. Since the onset of the conflict, Ukraine has intermittently targeted air bases that accommodate Russia’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers, leading Moscow to relocate the majority of these assets to areas further removed from the front lines.
Due to the proximity of the trucks from which Sunday’s drones were launched to the bases in five Russian regions, military defenses had minimal time to respond effectively. Numerous Russian military bloggers criticized the armed forces for not developing protective shields for the bombers, despite prior assaults; however, the considerable dimensions of the aircraft complicate this endeavor.
The attacks were described as “a big blow to Russian strategic airpower” and highlighted considerable weaknesses in Moscow’s military capabilities, according to Phillips O’Brien, a professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
