Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining next round of peace talks

Ukraine has accused Russia of not being serious about peace talks that are planned to take place in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed doubts about Russia's commitment after Moscow confirmed it would send a team to the talks but has not yet shared its negotiating proposals with Ukraine. Kyiv has made it clear that receiving Russia's proposals is a key demand for meaningful discussions. Zelensky said that for talks to be productive, the agenda must be clear and well-prepared, but he believes Russia is trying to make the meeting unproductive. Ukraine has already sent its proposals, including a readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire.

The first round of talks held two weeks ago in Istanbul did not lead to a breakthrough, but they did result in a prisoner swap. The conflict began in February 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. As the new round of talks approached, both sides reported explosions. In Ukraine's Kherson region, three people were killed and ten injured after Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas. The Sumy region also suffered casualties and evacuations, while explosions were reported in Kharkiv and Izyum. In Russia's Kursk region, an explosion injured at least 14 people.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Kyiv has already sent its vision for future steps and insists that Moscow must accept an unconditional ceasefire to allow broader negotiations. Although Presidents Putin and Zelensky are not expected to attend the upcoming talks, Turkey hopes to host a high-level summit including the leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia's ceasefire proposals would remain secret and that a summit would only happen if preliminary talks show meaningful progress. Meanwhile, a former US general acknowledged Russia's concerns about NATO expansion but confirmed that Ukraine joining NATO is not currently on the table. The US and Russia have discussed a ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree to stop fighting. Germany has pledged to help Ukraine develop long-range missiles for defense, a move Russia warns could harm peace efforts.