Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and Russia would meet again for additional peace talks on Wednesday. Live conflict still rages between the two countries. Try as they might, they have been unable to achieve anything beyond a stalemate in the more than three-and-a-half-years-long dispute. Even after the fourth round of negotiations, no real steps have been taken to establish a ceasefire or permanent agreement.
Just this past weekend, Ukraine sent Moscow a counter-offer to hold a third round of talks. This advance will enable the Administration to expedite the negotiation process. And yet, even as diplomacy continues, the situation on the ground can only be described as fragile. Just hours before the announcement of the upcoming talks, Russian forces launched a fresh wave of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
Recent Attacks on Kyiv
The overnight barrage on Monday led to at least one death so far being confirmed and set off fires in several locations throughout the capital, Kyiv. The most severe attacks focused on the Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse complex went up in flames. Not far from that incident, a Russian drone hit the main entrance to a subway station in downtown Kyiv, where many civilians had taken shelter.
These attacks highlight the urgency for Ukraine to secure additional military support from Western allies, particularly in the area of air defense. The frequency and intensity of Russian strikes underscore the challenges Ukraine faces as it attempts to negotiate peace while under continuous threat.
Stalled Peace Negotiations
Now, Zelenskyy has started an initiative for renewed talks. This round of discussions builds on two earlier rounds that occurred in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2. Those meetings produced historic results, including the exchange of thousands of long-missing prisoners of war and the return of deceased soldiers’ remains. There are still huge differences between the two countries.
Even Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted the situation was complicated. He underscored the deep diplomatic work that remains on the road ahead. For now, as much as Ukraine has produced a draft memorandum, the two sides’ positions are still “diametrically opposed,” he stressed.
“There is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,” – Dmitry Peskov.
Even though there seems to be some willingness to keep talking, analysts are more cynical about the chances for actual progress. The course of Ukraine-Russia negotiations to date has been tumultuous, marked recently by disarray cast by the continued presence of active hostilities.
The Path Forward
With both sides readying for the upcoming fall negotiations, the world looks on attentively. The large distance between the two sides’ positions indicates that any deal will likely take considerable give and take from both sides. The urgency of the situation is amplified by recent attacks and the plight of civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
