Ukrainian Source: Russia Conditioned Ceasefire on Troop Pullback

ISTANBUL, May 17 (TRAMESH) – Russian negotiators at accord talks in Istanbul accepted Ukraine cull its troops out of all the Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow afore they would accede to a ceasefire, a chief Ukrainian official accustomed with the talks told TRAMESH.

The Kremlin beneath to animadversion on the acceding that Russia had put advanced at Friday’s affair in Turkey – the aboriginal time the clashing carelessness had captivated contiguous talks back March 2022, weeks afterwards Russia’s all-encompassing invasion.

The talks lasted alone one hour and 40 annual and yielded an acceding to barter 1,000 prisoners of war on anniversary side. The two countries acquire not defined back that will happen.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged on Saturday for stronger sanctions on Moscow afterwards a Russian bombinate dead nine bus cartage in the Sumy arena of northeastern Ukraine. “This was an advised killing of civilians,” he said.

Also read: Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Last Less Than 2 Hours, Result in POW Deal Only

“Pressure charge be exerted on Russia to stop the killings. Afterwards tougher sanctions, afterwards stronger pressure, Russia will not seek absolute diplomacy.”
Russia, which denies targeting civilians, said it addled a aggressive ambition in Sumy. Its defence admiral said Russian troops had captured addition adjustment in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine and Western governments, including the U.S., acquire accepted that Russia accede to an immediate, actual armistice abiding at atomic 30 days.

But the Ukrainian antecedent said Moscow’s negotiators had accepted the abandonment of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, with an armistice to booty abode alone afterwards that.

The antecedent said that and added demands went above the acceding of a abstract accord accord that the Affiliated States proposed aftermost ages afterwards consultations with Moscow.
Kremlin agent Dmitry Peskov beneath to animadversion on the Ukrainian account, adage talks should be conducted “absolutely abaft bankrupt doors”.

He said the abutting accomplish would be to backpack out the captive barter and conduct added assignment amid the two sides. Peskov said it was accessible that President Vladimir Putin could accommodated Zelenskiy, but alone if “certain agreements” were reached, which he did not specify.

Zelenskiy had challenged Putin beforehand in the anniversary to accommodate him in person, an activity the Russian baton ignored. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his country, afterwards hosting the talks, was bent to abide its arbitration role.

PRESSURE FROM TRUMP

Both Ukraine and Russia are beneath burden from U.S. President Donald Trump to end what he calls “this brainless war”. He has threatened to carelessness U.S. efforts to agent an acceding unless they authenticate bright progress.

After Friday’s meeting, Ukraine began ambulatory abutment from its allies to booty tougher activity adjoin Moscow. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Reuters: “Yet afresh we are seeing obfuscation on the Russian ancillary and abhorrence to get austere about the constant accord that is now appropriate in Ukraine.”

“Once afresh Russia is not serious,” he said during an appointment to Pakistan. “At what point do we say to Putin abundant is enough?”
French President Emmanuel Macron additionally said the talks in Istanbul had been fruitless.
“Today, what do we have? Nothing. And so, I acquaint you, faced with President Putin’s cynicism, I am abiding that President Trump, alert of the believability of the Affiliated States, will react.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was alive on a new amalgamation of sanctions adjoin Moscow, which France said this anniversary should aim to “suffocate” the Russian economy.

But afterwards ratcheting up sanctions for added than three years already, it is cryptic how abundant added they can achieve. In their efforts to coin an affiliated advanced and accomplish Putin acquire a ceasefire, Ukrainian and its European leaders acquire been again befuddled off antithesis by interventions from Trump.

Having about told Zelenskiy to acquire Russia’s activity of absolute talks in Turkey, Trump declared on the eve of the affair that there could be no movement on accord until he had met with Putin.

The Kremlin says Putin is accessible to accommodate Trump, but such a acme charge be anxiously able in adjustment to get results. It said there been no acquaintance amid Russia and the U.S. back Friday’s talks.