“ Something happened yesterday Tuesday in the closed door of the Dolmabahçe Palace, in Istanbul, relief The cross. It is too early to say that this is a decisive step, but it is – in fact – the first diplomatic bright spot since the invasion of Ukraine. On the shores of the Bosphorus, the two delegations (Russian and Ukrainian) yesterday sent signals that go in the same direction: not yet that of peace, perhaps at least that of a truce. »
” On the 34th day of the brutal conflict triggered by the Russian president in his neighbor, the signs of a timid diplomatic and military de-escalation accumulated yesterday, also points Release. Notably in Istanbul where, under the mediation of the Turkish president, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held “substantial” discussions (in their own words). These positive signals from Turkey, together with the announcement of a “drastic” reduction in Russian military activity around the capital, kyiv, are fueling the growing feeling that Russia is seeking to redirect a strategy which, for the hour, looks like an almost total failure. »
So comment Release“ the desire to believe in it is so strong that it is tempting to be satisfied with a simple hope. Except that the Ukrainians expect much more than a hope. Many of them have lost everything in a few weeks: their house, their savings, their city or their village and sometimes even one or more members of their family. So, can we trust Vladimir Putin who, in the past and particularly in Syria, has repeatedly taken up on the ground what he had just given at the negotiating table? »
Towards a Zelensky-Putin meeting?
” A first diplomatic step, but… “, also tempers The Parisian. ” If there is no question of a ceasefire yet, the fighting even remaining very tough on both sides, the content of a future agreement seems surprisingly precise and nourished. »
What would be the basics? ” Ukraine, which would de facto renounce joining NATO and would therefore opt for neutrality, wants an “international agreement” on its security. This would be signed by several guarantor countries, starting with the permanent member states of the UN Security Council, as well as Turkey, Germany, Poland and Israel. What role for these guarantors? According to the Ukrainian negotiators, they “would act in a manner analogous to Article 5 of NATO'” – which stipulates that an attack on one of the members automatically leads to a relief action by the others. “However, wonders The Parisian, ” would this be acceptable for Putin, who makes NATO membership a “red line” and would see there a formula very similar to it? The head of the Russian delegation made it clear that these “clear” proposals from Ukraine would be “studied very soon and submitted to the President”. Short, concludes Le Parisien, a Putin-Zelensky summit – who accused the Russians of a “crime against humanity” in Mariupol – is not necessarily for now. »
“Let’s be careful…”
West France also wonders: should we believe in progress? “Reply from the newspaper:” It is a little early to talk about global warming with NATO, but an opportunity is being created. »
For his part, in an interview with WorldNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remains skeptical…
” Let us remain cautious in the interpretation of certain positions. We have seen that Mr. Putin, Mr. Lavrov and others knew how to lie when they asserted that Ukraine would not be invaded, even though we were witnessing, month after month, the reinforcement of their military presence. »
Chemical weapons: the red line
The Secretary General of NATO who also warns Russia about the possible use of chemical weapons: ” several allies are concerned that Russia has accused some of them, as well as Ukraine, of preparing to use such weapons. We have seen in the past Moscow make this kind of speech to hide its own intentions. »
And Jens Stoltenberg therefore warns: “ the use of chemical weapons would be totally unacceptable, horrible, and would change the nature of the conflict. This underlines the need to stop this dangerous conflict. All allies agreed that a violation of the ban on the use of such weapons, to which Russia subscribed, would have massive consequences. I will not detail them. »