Russia and Ukraine to begin new round of negotiations
A new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are expected to start today.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this week that Moscow is prepared to restart direct talks with Ukraine, suggesting May 15 in Turkey as the date for the next round. This follows a three-day ceasefire declared by Russia, which coincided with mounting international pressure for a more substantial truce.
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland have jointly called for an unconditional, 30-day ceasefire, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. These leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, signaling strong Western support for Ukraine as the conflict enters its fourth year.
As President Putin has decided to skip the meeting, inadequate outcomes from the low-level delegation sent by Moscow is expected. In such case, European countries are expected to implement a new package of sanctions. The negotiations topics will include territorial sovereignty, security guarantees, and the status of occupied regions. Russia is expected to push for recognition of its control over Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as assurances that Ukraine will not join NATO. Meanwhile, Ukraine will likely demand the full withdrawal of Russian forces, security guarantees, and reparations for war damages. These significant hurdles are likely to remain unsolved in the medium term as compromise by either party will be seen as defeat domestically.
