Russia and Ukraine resume peace talks amid escalating tensions

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine have gathered in Istanbul for renewed peace negotiations.

It happens just one day after Ukraine launched a major drone attack targeting Russian strategic bomber bases deep inside Russian territory.

The talks, mediated by Turkey and backed by the United States, aim to explore a potential ceasefire, though expectations remain low due to the vast differences in both sides’ demands.

The negotiations begin under heavy tension following Ukraine’s “Operation Spider’s Web,” a large-scale drone strike that reportedly damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian long-range bombers, including Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 aircraft.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the operation as a necessary defensive move, while Russia condemned it as an act of terrorism.

In response, Russia launched its largest drone barrage of the war, firing 472 drones overnight, with Ukrainian forces intercepting 162 of them.

Ukraine’s delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, is pushing for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, a full prisoner exchange, the return of deported Ukrainian children, and security guarantees, including potential NATO membership.

Meanwhile, Russia’s representatives, headed by Vladimir Medinsky, continue to demand Ukrainian neutrality, recognition of annexed territories, and an end to Western military aid.

Moscow has rejected any unconditional truce, insisting on concessions before halting hostilities.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan opened the talks at Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace, urging both sides to seek a diplomatic solution.

The U.S. has expressed cautious support but remains skeptical of Russia’s willingness to compromise.

European leaders are coordinating with Kyiv to maintain pressure on Moscow, warning of further sanctions if negotiations collapse.

These talks follow a previous round in May that resulted in a prisoner swap but no ceasefire.

Analysts suggest Russia may be stalling to solidify battlefield gains, while Ukraine hopes its recent military successes will strengthen its bargaining position.

With Russia reportedly preparing a new offensive and Ukraine demonstrating its long-range strike capabilities, the path to peace remains uncertain.

Background of the conflict

The Russia-Ukraine War, which escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022, has deep historical, political, and geopolitical roots.

Ukraine and Russia share a complex history, with Ukraine being part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union until its independence in 1991.

Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, have long viewed Ukraine as part of Russia’s historical and cultural sphere, dismissing Ukrainian statehood as an artificial construct.

Putin’s 2021 essay “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” claimed Ukraine was “entirely created by Russia,” reinforcing his justification for intervention.

In 2013, Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, rejected an EU association agreement under Russian pressure, sparking mass protests (Euromaidan).

Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014, leading to Russia’s swift annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk (Donbas).

The Minsk Agreements (2014, 2015) attempted to freeze the conflict but failed due to violations by both sides.

Putin has repeatedly cited NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat, claiming the West broke promises not to extend the alliance post-Cold War.

Ukraine’s 2019 constitutional amendment to seek NATO membership further alarmed Moscow, despite no imminent accession plans. Russia demanded legally binding guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO, which the West refused.

In February 2022, Putin launched a “special military operation,” claiming goals of “denazification” and “demilitarization”—despite Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

The invasion aimed to overthrow Ukraine’s pro-Western government and prevent NATO alignment but faced fierce resistance.

Russia initially failed to capture Kyiv but later occupied parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, annexing four regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia) in 2022.

The war stems from historical grievances, NATO tensions, and Putin’s ambitions to dominate Ukraine.

Despite initial predictions of a quick Russian victory, Ukraine’s resilience and Western support have prolonged the conflict, making it Europe’s deadliest since WWII. For further details, see sources such as Wikipedia and CFR.

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