Russian and Ukrainian negotiators conform to a prisoner swap however made no main breakthroughs in Istanbul ceasefire talks.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Now a more in-depth have a look at what’s been occurring with the delegations from Russia and Ukraine. They held direct talks in Istanbul, Turkey, immediately. That assembly got here a day later than deliberate and with lowered expectations, given the absence of high-level political leaders within the room. Even so, the peace negotiations had been the primary between Moscow and Kyiv for the reason that early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Becoming a member of us now could be NPR’s Charles Maynes, who has been following these occasions from Moscow. Hello there.
CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Hello, Juana.
SUMMERS: So Charles, I collect this was not precisely a easy course of, getting these delegations collectively.
MAYNES: (Laughter).
SUMMERS: Inform us why.
MAYNES: No, it was not. You recognize, these talks had been supposed to start out Thursday however had been derailed by information that President Vladimir Putin of Russia wouldn’t be becoming a member of, regardless of having been the one to suggest the concept. As a substitute, Putin introduced final minute a mid-level group, I might name, of technocrats had been representing Russia. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who traveled to Turkey and challenged Putin to indicate up as effectively, made no secret he thought this confirmed Putin wasn’t severe in regards to the negotiations or, for that matter, a ceasefire. Right here he’s chatting with the – on the sidelines of a summit of European leaders in Albania immediately.
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PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: And if the Russian representatives in Istanbul immediately can’t even conform to that – to a ceasefire, to this clearly crucial first step – then will probably be 100% clear that Putin continues to undermine diplomacy.
SUMMERS: However Charles, after all these two delegations – they did lastly meet. So what got here out of it?
MAYNES: Properly, yeah, for lower than two hours behind closed doorways – and there have been some indicators of progress, together with a deal for a mass prisoner swap – 1,000 prisoners from both sides – additionally an settlement to change competing ceasefire proposals as a foundation for additional discussions. And the pinnacle of the Russian delegation, presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, additionally had this to say.
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VLADIMIR MEDINSKY: (Talking Russian).
MAYNES: So right here, Medinsky says that on the entire, the Russian delegation was glad with the outcomes of the assembly. And never solely that, they had been able to proceed contacts with Ukraine. So arguably, these are all good issues. The issue right here was there have been excessive expectations going into Istanbul. You recognize, Putin offered these talks as a shock counteroffer to Western calls for he signal a direct 30-day ceasefire or face large new sanctions. You recognize, that implied some new flexibility for some folks, and so many thought immediately’s conferences from the start had been much less about what was completed and extra about who did not hassle to indicate – in regards to the deal that wasn’t made.
SUMMERS: Proper. And to that time, one other query mark looming over all of this was whether or not President Trump, who was on the Center East on an official journey, may make a cameo.
MAYNES: Yeah. Trump stated he may cease by if he thought it will assist shut a deal. Clearly, he did not in the long run. Was that as a result of he thought Putin would not come, or was it the opposite means round? We simply do not know. Both means, Trump and others, similar to his Secretary of State Marco Rubio, say that it will take Trump now and Putin in a room to hammer out an actual peace deal. And that is actually music to Moscow’s ears. The Kremlin has at all times portrayed the warfare in Ukraine as a part of a wider battle between Russia and the West.
SUMMERS: So assist us perceive the place issues may go from right here.
MAYNES: Properly, this prisoner change could occur within the subsequent few days. That is excellent news. Russian-Ukraine talks could very effectively make progress for these ceasefire proposals as effectively. The query is whether or not Putin has inflicted harm elsewhere. You recognize, the Europeans are clearly incensed at what they see as Putin feigning diplomacy whereas he maximizes leverage on the battlefield. They are saying they’re going to now transfer ahead with extra sanctions and tariffs in opposition to key Russian exports. However the larger subject is how Trump reacts. You recognize, the U.S. had threatened to affix the Europeans if it did not see a ceasefire. What does Trump do now? And who does he blame actually stays elusive. Is it Russia, Ukraine or each?
SUMMERS: NPR’s Charles Maynes talking with us from Moscow. Thanks a lot.
MAYNES: Thanks.
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