Moscow on Tuesday once again tempered expectations for the upcoming peace talks with Ukraine as the Kremlin did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul, which Ukraine had scheduled for Wednesday. This announcement follows the Kremlin’s statement on Monday, indicating that both sides remain far apart in their visions for resolving the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over three years. As tensions escalate, both nations continue to exchange drone and missile strikes.
During a regular briefing, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed skepticism about the talks. He stated, “We don’t have any reason to hope for some miraculous breakthroughs,” reflecting the Kremlin’s cautious outlook regarding the negotiations.
Ukraine’s Proposed Discussion Topics
In contrast, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined potential topics for discussion, who emphasized Kyiv’s readiness to secure the release of captives, return abducted children, halt the killings, and prepare for a leaders’ meeting. These proposals highlight Ukraine’s commitment to finding common ground despite the ongoing hostilities.
Moscow acknowledged that “a lot of work lies ahead” before any meaningful discussions could occur between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019, and the Kremlin’s recent comments suggest that significant obstacles remain. Ukraine announced that its ex-defence minister and current secretary of the security council, Rustem Umerov, will lead Kyiv’s delegation during the talks on Wednesday.
The Kremlin has only stated that it hopes talks could occur “this week.” Peskov added, “As soon as we are ready, we will make an announcement regarding the dates.” This ambiguity leaves many questions about the future of the negotiations.
Previous Talks Yielded Little Progress
In the last round of talks, Moscow’s delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hawkish historian and head of the Russian Union of Writers, whom was criticized by Ukraine, describing him as a puppet with no real authority. Previous meetings in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2 yielded no breakthroughs, only agreements to exchange prisoners and soldiers’ bodies.
While diplomatic efforts continue, the brutal conflict rages on at the frontline as both Moscow and Kyiv reported intercepting dozens of drones launched at each other. The Russian army claimed to have captured the village of Novotoretskoye in the Donetsk region, marking a significant advance as Moscow intensifies its ground offensive.
Casualties from Recent Strikes
Furthermore, recent attacks have resulted in tragic casualties after a Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied Kherson region killed three people and injured three others, according to a Moscow-installed official. Additionally, a man died in Russia’s Belgorod region following a Ukrainian attack, as reported by the local governor.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone and missile strike killed a 10-year-old boy in Kramatorsk and injured more than a dozen others across the country. Kyiv’s authorities noted that Russia has recently launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities. This escalation raises concerns that Moscow is not serious about halting its all-out offensive, which began in February 2022.
