**Ukraine and Russia to Resume Peace Talks in Turkey on Wednesday**
After a seven-week break, peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are set to resume on Wednesday in Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the news on Monday, citing a senior Kyiv official as saying that the meeting is planned for Wednesday.
Zelenskiy had earlier appealed for greater momentum in negotiations, which have made little progress towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war. The Kremlin has said that the two sides are “diametrically opposed” in their positions on how to end the conflict.
The talks will be the first since June 2, when Russia’s state TASS news agency quoted a source in Turkey as saying that the meeting would take place over two days, Thursday and Friday. However, the RIA news agency reported that the talks would only take place on Wednesday.
**Ukraine’s Agenda**
Zelenskiy has made it clear what Ukraine is looking for from the talks: “The agenda from our side is clear: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders’ meeting.” This includes a prisoner exchange and another meeting with Russia in Turkey.
**Russia’s Stance**
However, Russia has made it clear that it will not budge on its demands. The Kremlin says Ukraine must abandon four regions Moscow says have been incorporated into Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also said he does not see Zelenskiy as a legitimate leader because Ukraine did not hold new elections when his five-year mandate expired last year.
**International Pressure**
The international community is increasing pressure on Russia to show progress towards ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new sanctions in 50 days if there is no deal before then. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking in Kyiv after talks with Zelenskiy, noted Russia’s refusal to implement an immediate ceasefire as well as its “maximalist” demands.
**Analysis**
The resumption of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday is a positive step towards finding a solution to the conflict. However, the two sides have made little progress in their previous rounds of talks, and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to make significant headway this time around.
As Barrot noted, “Discussions must begin, but on a basis that respects the interests of both parties, because diplomacy is not submission.” It seems that Ukraine and Russia are still far apart in their positions, and it may take some time before a breakthrough can be achieved.
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