Puzzle rates about peace talks in Istanbul

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Ukraine War: puzzle rates for peace talks in Istanbul

Kremlin chief Putin continues to fidget the world – also to demonstrate his own power. Whether he comes to the peace talks remains open – and thus also the chances of success of a meeting.

Shortly before the planned negotiations on the end of the Russian war in Ukraine, the format and composition of the meeting are still open. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow emphasized on Tuesday that a Russian delegation would travel to Istanbul on Thursday to the meeting proposed by President Vladimir Putin. However, he left open who belongs to the delegation and whether the Kremlin boss will arrive himself.

The Kremlin boss himself also kept covered with the question at a meeting with Russian business representatives. For this he showed himself very confidently in relation to the Russian market. An apology of western investors is not sufficient to be able to return to Russia, he said. The statement suggests that he expects an early end of the sanctions.

Selenskyj will travel to Turkey in any case. At the moment, however, only a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planned in Ankara. Selenskyj has recently confirmed his demand for Putin’s participation in the planned negotiations on the end of the Russian war of aggression.

Putin decides everything in Russia, so he also has to decide on the question of the war, said Selenskyj in his evening video message. “It is his war. That’s why negotiations with him have to run.” In an interview published by the “Spiegel” on Tuesday evening, Selenskyj said: “It seems to me (Putin) is afraid.”

According to his information, Ukraine is preparing for the meeting in Turkey in close coordination with the partners. In his video message, Selenskyj expressed doubts about Russia’s willingness to negotiate. “Russia talks a lot about direct negotiations, but when it comes to the business, they hide,” he said in view of the delay tactics of Moscow on an arrival of Putin. Should the Kremlin chief actually go to Istanbul, the Ukrainian also wants to get there.

However, if Putin actually appears in Istanbul, not all questions could be clarified immediately. “He and I cannot agree in everything at the moment, it is impossible,” said Selenskyj in an interview published at night of the French newspaper “Libération”. “But we have to find a format in one way or another to end the war.” But if Putin does not come to Istanbul, “this means that he does not strive for political success”

Selenskyj said that the presence of US President Donald Trump could move the Kremlin boss to participate in the negotiations. “If Putin doesn’t come, it will look like a total defeat for him.”

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio travels from the USA to talks to Turkey. US President Donald Trump announced. The negotiations there would take place at the end of this week, probably on Thursday, the Republican said when he visited Saudi Arabia. He described this as “very important” and was optimistic that “very good results” could be achieved.

In addition to Rubio, according to the White House, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg will also travel to the possible Ukrainian-Russian conversations. According to Trump, Trump also considered his own participation, but makes this dependent on the presence of Putin.

Selenskyj told the “Spiegel”: “If I meet Putin, it has to end with a political victory – a ceasefire or an exchange of prisoners everyone with everyone.” When asked whether Trump puts more pressure on him than on the Kremlin chief, the Ukrainian said: “Trump has to be convinced that Putin is lying.”

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius currently sees no will to negotiate a ceasefire at Putin. “He does not want to negotiate, he wants to continue bombing and fighting and making a terrain,” said the SPD politician in ZDF “Today Journal” about Putin.

Pistorius replied when asked whether the Russia were threatened new sanctions a bluff of the Europeans: “I don’t assume that.” Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the other heads of state and government would have made it very clear that “there must be sanctions and reactions and will give if this ceasefire is not followed by Putin or not even began”.