By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL – On June 2, the second round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine got underway in Istanbul chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Ciragan Palace, a former residence dating back to the Ottoman Empire. The goal behind this round of talks was to discuss ceasefire terms for both sides Fidan said and added, “the whole world’s eyes are focused on the contacts and discussions you will have here.” The Ukrainian delegation was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, led the Kremlin team. To date, efforts spearheaded by U.S. officials to push Russia and Ukraine toward a ceasefire have failed especially when it came to Russia refusing a 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine accepted. The talks ended with Russia handing over a memorandum to Ukrainian officials that contains its proposals for what Russia deems a “lasting peace,” as well as plans for additional prisoner exchanges. Meanwhile, Umerov told the press that Ukraine will take a week to review the memorandum then decide on what further steps might be taken. Though analysts, experts and officials said they did not expect great progress, both sides are hopeful for another prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, on June 2, Ukraine’s President Zelensky who was speaking at the Vilnius Summit in Lithuania ahead of the major NATO Summit later in June talked about the need for additional sanctions on Russia. As Zelensky said: “Sanctions against Russia are necessary,” adding “Without pressure, Putin will just keep playing games with everyone who wants this war to end.” Zelensky also remarked: “It’s important to seriously limit Russia’s oil trade and its use of tankers,” and said that Ukraine’s recent operations “seriously weakened Russia’s military.” The Ukrainian leader cautioned, “There must be a new level of pressure to work on sanctions at the G7 level” that he said must include the U.S. not just Europe. Zelensky highlighted there will be “new investments in Ukraine’s weapons productions, especially drones.” A major point that Zelensky made was that “Putin must get nothing that will justify his aggression.” He pointed out that if Putin is permitted to say who can join NATO “then Russia’s aggression will continue.” He urged all leaders to “act as one Euro-Atlantic community.” Zelensky added: “The key to lasting peace is clear, the aggressor must not receive any reward for war.” He warned that if that happened that “Russia’s appetite for war will only grow.”
