Russian President Vladimir Putin, who stirred the world agenda with the messages he gave from his visits to North Korea and Vietnam, once again brought up the signatures signed in Istanbul to end the war with Ukraine. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan also underlined the importance of the agreement made in Istanbul for the progress of the negotiations between the parties.
HERE ARE PUTIN’S PEACE CONDITIONS
For peace negotiations with Ukraine, Putin stipulated that Ukraine would withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia and give up its desire to join NATO.
‘ISTANBUL’ EMPHASIS
Emphasizing that they are ready for negotiations with Kiev, Putin said: “Russia has never rejected negotiations. The agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 were also acceptable to Ukraine. “For this reason, we are ready to continue the dialogue with the Ukrainian side on the basis of Istanbul and Minsk,” he said.
Vladimir Putin emphasized that the Ukrainian administration wants Russian troops to withdraw in order to sit at the negotiation table with Russia, but this will never happen.
MINISTER FIDAN: ISTANBUL MEETINGS ARE A SIGN THAT PROGRESS CAN BE MADE
On the other hand, the messages given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan at the Ukraine Peace Conference held in Switzerland recently attracted attention. Stating that the war could get worse day by day and the timing of the conference in question could not be better, Minister Fidan noted the following:
“As the war continues, we face two major risks. Geographically, this war could extend beyond Ukraine. We are already seeing the deepening of the crisis among societies and the fueling of polarization at the global level. This war is increasingly no longer a war between Russia and Ukraine. Second, there is an inherent risk that this devastating conventional war will involve weapons of mass destruction. “We are here today to avoid these two risks and to put an end to the war.”
Reminding that Russia also put forward conditions for peace, Minister Fidan said, “These are important steps and a glimmer of hope for the beginning. “But both sides see the other side’s steps as an extension of a broader war effort,” he said.
Describing the conference in question as the last exit before all hopes end, Minister Fidan said, “I should also point out that this conference could have been more result-oriented if Russia, the other side of the conflict, was also present in the hall.”
“Türkiye IS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS”
Stating that Turkey believes that the need for a comprehensive and inclusive strategy through diplomacy and negotiations is increasing, Minister Fidan used the following statements:
“Türkiye actively participates in diplomatic efforts. The Istanbul talks in March 2022 and the Black Sea Grain Initiative are signs that diplomacy and negotiations can truly make progress. Türkiye, as always, is ready to facilitate the process. I would like to underline one thing here. What made the grain initiative successful and unique was its inclusive nature. It provided predictability for both parties and ensured navigational safety for maritime exports. There is much to learn from this example. Our last attempt to implement a similar mechanism gave an almost positive result. We will not hesitate to make further efforts. Türkiye continues its determined support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Our vision of peace is realistic, inclusive and practical. To this end, we are committed to creating a path forward. “As President Erdoğan stated, there will be no losers in peace.”
WHAT HAPPENED?
While the Russian army was waiting around Kiev at the beginning of the war, the two sides sat at the negotiation table in Istanbul. As a result of the negotiations held in Istanbul on March 29, 2022, as a result of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s mediation attempts, the Ukrainian side delivered the principles of a possible future written agreement to the Russian side, and the agreement was very close.
However, a few days later, the Kiev administration opened mass graves in the cities of Bucha and Irpin vacated by Russian armed forces, accused Russia of committing a massacre, and Ukraine announced that it withdrew from the agreement in Istanbul.
(AA-IHA)
