The Farce of Istanbul.
It was a moment that revealed everything about the state of the Ukraine war: As Volodymyr Zelensky stood alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, announcing his delegation for direct talks with Russia in Istanbul, he posed a simple question: “Do you want to meet? Then let’s meet.” But the recipient of this challenge, Vladimir Putin, remained invisible - a leader who evaded the talks he himself had called for.
It is a farce taking shape. Zelensky is sending a high-level delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, accompanied by deputies of the intelligence services, the deputy chief of the general staff, and the deputy foreign minister. Russia, on the other hand, is sending what Zelensky sharply called “stand-ins” - a sign that Moscow never seriously intended to negotiate.
“Russia has no reason to end the war,” Zelensky declared during the press conference in Ankara. “This means there is not enough political, economic, and other pressure on the Russian Federation.” The demand for further sanctions is as old as the war itself, but the reality remains: As long as Moscow fears no consequences for its aggression, every negotiating table is just a stage for empty gestures.
Trump, currently on a tour of the Middle East, immediately weighed in. “A peace agreement isn’t going to happen until I and Vladimir Putin get together,” he declared. It is a statement that says less about the reality of diplomacy and more about Trump’s ego. The notion that a personal meeting between him and Putin could solve all conflicts is a dangerous illusion.
Meanwhile, the front in Ukraine remains brutally unchanged. Russia is betting on a military solution, while Ukrainian forces, supported by the West, continue to defend. But the talks in Istanbul are more than just a stage. They are a test - a test for the West, for Turkey, for the United States, and for Russian leadership.
If Putin avoids the talks, it does not mean the war will soon end. It simply means that Russia still believes it can gain more by fighting than it could lose through negotiations. And it means the world must continue to watch as peace remains a distant prospect.
Key Statements:
Russian delegation has no mandate; Moscow does not want to end the war - Zelensky
Putin’s chief negotiator says Moscow’s goal is a long-term peace
Zelensky challenges Putin: “Do you want to meet? Then let’s meet.”
Rubio says a meeting between Trump and Putin is necessary for a breakthrough in Ukraine talks
“I am here,” Zelensky tells Putin after arriving in Turkey
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