Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is in high spirits following last week’s Ankara visit, describing the encounter as a “great meeting.” He wants to host a peace summit in Türkiye between Russia’s autocrat Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s democrat Vladimir Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden. This diplomatic effort takes place amid rising tensions. Though Israel and Hamas have reached several agreements for prisoner exchanges in recent months, there has been scant movement to establish an overall ceasefire.
Erdogan’s remarks come amid a complex landscape of conflict where Ukraine’s government continues to advocate for peace talks. Ukraine has called for additional talks before the end of June, seeking an end to active fighting. Kyiv is understandably wary when it comes to trusting Putin’s peace overtures. By this they mean the Russian leader’s utter lack of desire to accomplish a mutually beneficial outcome.
Diplomatic Efforts Amidst Tension
After Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the war transformed dramatically. In turn, these events have escalated the need for intense diplomatic efforts to ameliorate the situation. Erdogan’s initiative is a promising step and one that could lead to greater dialogue, but the current situation is still very much complicated. Kyiv and Moscow have dug in their heels. Ukraine has correctly called Russia out for trying to achieve capitulation rather than seeking true peace.
The picture is getting a lot more complicated very quickly. Most recently, Russian negotiators have put forward a draft peace accord for Ukraine’s consideration. While this gesture indicates a willingness to negotiate, Kyiv’s leadership remains cautious, emphasizing that any genuine peace must adhere to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Furthermore, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, highlighted that Kyiv’s delegation had requested the return of a list of children whom they allege have been deported to Russia. This list is currently at 339 names. In a tone-deaf retelling of the incident, Russian official Dmitry Medinsky characterized the ordeal, saying that the children were not “stolen,” but rather “saved.”
Continued Military Engagement
While international diplomatic talks continue, the violence has escalated into war. This past weekend, Ukraine executed one of its most daring strikes of the war. Then they sent their drones to destroy Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers in Siberia and elsewhere. This escalation is a clear signal of Ukraine’s desire and ability to further minimize Russian military capabilities even as negotiations continue.
To the shock of many, Russia and Ukraine decided to increase the number of prisoners of war exchanged. They further agreed to repatriate the remains of 12,000 dead soldiers. Under this agreement, each side will be mutually exchanged 6,000 bodies with the other and returned to their families. This aspect of the negotiations highlights a shared human concern amidst the broader conflict and illustrates some level of cooperation even as tensions remain high.
The United States has reported that since the conflict began in 2022, more than 1.2 million people have been killed or injured. This shocking number further highlights the importance of meaningful discussion and solutions for achieving a cessation of violence.
The Road Ahead
Through persistent diplomatic efforts and continued military escalations, no breakthrough has materialized on the proposed ceasefire. Ukraine, its European allies, and Washington remain adamant that Russia must agree to the terms. Moscow insists that Ukraine renounce its intention to join NATO. It at the same time demands that Ukraine cede lands seized by Russia.
Many troublesome sticking points hampering the talks could be overcome with one conversation between Zelenskyy and Putin, experts recommend. The journey to come is a bit murky. Each side has different, fundamental ideas of what would shape any peace deal into something they believe would last.
