Vladimir Putin makes a question of participating in peace talks about the nerve test

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.

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 be political and – I would say – discuss 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.

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.

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.

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.