Kiev hopes that the US can bring Moscow back to the negotiating table by, among other things, tightening its sanctions, said a Ukrainian government official. Zelensky said on online networks that Ukraine is trying to “revive negotiations, and we have developed solutions that we will propose to our partners.” Another goal is to resume the exchange of prisoners of war with Russia.
The diplomatic efforts to find a peace solution, which had also been pushed forward by US President Donald Trump, have so far been unsuccessful. A bill is currently being discussed in the US Senate that would impose high punitive tariffs on all countries that buy Russian oil and gas. Trump said he agreed with the plan. His government had already imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil in October.
“The Americans are now discussing a new wave of pressure, so it is logical to negotiate diplomatic pressure,” said the Ukrainian government official, referring to the talks in Ankara. Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Turkey has offered itself as a mediator between Kiev and Moscow. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine have met in Istanbul since May for three rounds of negotiations in which the exchange of prisoners and the return of killed soldiers were agreed.
However, there was no progress towards a ceasefire at the meetings. Moscow refused a ceasefire. Rather, the Russian army continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities with undiminished severity and has since recorded further gains in territory, particularly in the east of the country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Russia was “open to negotiation processes” to end the war. He blamed Ukraine and its European allies for the stalemate in the talks. According to Ukraine, however, there are no signs that Moscow is ready to stop its invasion. Kiev accuses Russia of continuing to make unacceptable demands, for example with a view to ceding Ukrainian territories to Moscow.
Zelensky is currently on a tour of several European countries seeking further support for the Ukrainian army and the country’s ailing energy infrastructure. On Monday in Paris he signed a declaration of intent to purchase up to a hundred Rafale fighter jets and other armaments.
This agreement was met with sharp criticism from Moscow on Tuesday. “Paris does not contribute to peace, but rather stirs up militaristic and pro-war sentiments,” said Kremlin spokesman Peskov. “No matter what aircraft are sold to the Kiev regime, this will not change the situation on the front and will not affect the dynamics,” he added.
The situation at the front is currently extremely difficult for Ukraine. The strategically important city of Pokrovsk in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk may be on the verge of collapse. Russian troops are also continuing to advance in other regions of the country.
The government in Kyiv is also worried about the upcoming winter. In October, Russia carried out the most massive attacks on Ukrainian gas facilities since the invasion began in February 2022, crippling 60 percent of gas production. In response to the attacks, Ukraine regularly attacks refineries and fuel depots in Russia.
