The Kremlin also does not determine who is arriving from Moscow shortly before the talks on the Ukraine War planned on Thursday in Istanbul. For this, the EU agreed on new sanctions against Russia.
The planned negotiations in Turkey on the termination of the Ukraine war become a nerve test before the start. The Kremlin continues to open who he sends to Istanbul this Thursday. President Vladimir Putin had suggested the meeting himself, but did not comment on whether he is traveling personally. This in turn is a demand for the Ukrainians, whose President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Turkey is waiting for Putin in his own words, since this is the legend of war and peace alone in Russia.
The occupation of the delegation will be announced when Putin gives the instruction, Kremllagers Dmitri Peskow said once again on Wednesday. In fact, the Russian delegation will expect the Ukrainians in Istanbul on Thursday.
Kremlin wants to discuss many technical questions
The statements of Putin’s foreign policy advisor Juri Uschakow indicate that the Kremlin chief is rather not to be expected in Istanbul. “The delegation will discuss political and – I would say – a huge amount of technical questions. Starting from this, its composition is determined,” he told state television.
Moscow had already made it clear in the past that a meeting of the heads of state must be well prepared. These would come together in the last phase of negotiations when the technical details have been clarified.
Print on Putin grows
In the meantime, the demands for Putin’s personal participation in the conversations are louder. Selenskyj justified the need to take part in Putin with the fact that he had started the war and had to end it. The 72-year-old is the only one who made decisions in the war after 25 years in power in Moscow.
US President Donald Trump once again confirmed his willingness to come to Istanbul when there was a chance of a solution. Russia attacked its neighboring country in February 2022, since then Ukraine has defended itself against the invasion with western help.
In the meantime, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also switched on. Lula said in China that he wanted to ask Putin to fly into the Bosphorus metropolis. According to Russian media, his plane has now landed in Moscow.
Kyiv calls for sanctions
If Putin does not appear, it was a clear signal for the world that Moscow does not want peace and is “not ready for serious negotiations”, the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Chancellery, Andrij Jermak, wrote at Telegram.
In addition, Jermak called for sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin chief does not travel to Turkey. President Selenskyj’s confidante also emphasized the importance of NATO membership in Ukraine. “Without this there will be no real (security) guarantees,” he said.
EU countries agree on new Russia sanctions
NATO membership for Ukraine seems out of reach, but when it comes to sanctions, the EU countries have already agreed on a new package. Among other things, it provides for a further tightening of the procedure against the so -called Russian shadow fleet for the transport of oil and oil products, as diplomats reported after a coordination in the committee of the constant representatives of the 27 Member States.
It is also planned to target dozens of other companies that are involved in the bypass of existing sanctions or support the Russian armaments industry.
A total of 189 other ships should be banned in ports in the EU after the agreement. Likewise, the operators would no longer be able to benefit from the services of European companies. According to the plan, around 30 economic actors will be affected by new export restrictions. 75 other people and companies should no longer be allowed to do business in the EU and also have to fear warranty closures.
The new sanctions are to be formally decided on this Tuesday at an EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting and then come into force immediately. Other punitive measures against organizations and people are also planned for the spread of false news and violations of human rights.
NATO foreign ministers meet in Turkey
Additional explosiveness gives the discussion about a Putin trip to Turkey the fact that on Thursday the NATO foreign ministers also meet in the country-albeit around 500 kilometers away in Belek on the Mediterranean coast. The meeting is primarily concerned with the United States’ demand for an increase in defense spending in the partner countries.
As a reminder: Moscow had justified his war of aggression against Ukraine primarily with the NATO accession of the neighboring country. This endangers the security interests of Russia. Because of the war, Russia’s neighboring countries on the Baltic Sea, Sweden and Finland, the military alliance have joined – and the European NATO countries have significantly increased armaments.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
