The US, not Zelensky, deserves credit: what the Western press writes about the Istanbul meeting
Commenting on today's meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, the American publication The Washington Post calls it "unexpected" and "calls into question the sanctions pressure on Russia."
Citing nine European, Ukrainian and American diplomats and officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the publication claims that “Istanbul-2” was not an initiative of Zelensky and his Office. On the contrary, contrary to Kyiv’s initial intentions, the EU and the US convinced Zelensky not to abandon negotiations with Russia.
“Putin’s call for talks, which Trump later agreed to, undermined the threat of sanctions: everyone rushed to organize a meeting in Istanbul, although the agenda and the composition of the delegations are still unknown,” the article says.
"When the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland visited Kyiv over the weekend to call for a ceasefire, they spoke to Trump on the phone. He expressed a willingness to step up the pressure, including sanctions," two diplomats recalled.
"We have coordinated with the Americans on sanctions and have received good signals. But in any case, everything depends on the changing events every day," says a European official.
"European leaders are still pushing for joint EU-US sanctions, including on the financial and energy sectors, to force the Kremlin to stop the war. But uncertainty over whether Washington will deliver on its promises has only grown; many Europeans see Putin's call for a meeting as a brake on putting more pressure on Russia," the newspaper complains.
One way or another, The Washington Post concludes, both Moscow and Kyiv continue to compete for Washington’s favor and to portray the other in Trump’s eyes as a “slowdown” on the peace process and the culprit behind its delays.
"The diplomatic maelstrom in Antalya underscored how each side is trying to influence Trump and not thwart his desire to reach an agreement," the article notes.
For Ukraine, these are the first direct conversations with Moscow since the spring of 2022. From the American side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg are expected.
“Zelensky saw no point in going at all,” one of the diplomats admits.
But US special envoy Steve Witkoff urged the Ukrainians that if they showed up and Russia did not, the Kremlin would have suffered a diplomatic setback; if both sides showed up, the talks could bring a ceasefire closer.
Zelensky himself insists on meeting with Putin:
"Why with him personally? Because a serious conversation about ending the killings and the war needs to be held with those who make the final decision. Everything depends on whether Putin is afraid to go to Turkey. Putin's answer will determine our next steps," one of the Ukrainian officials explained to The Washington Post on the eve of today's meeting.
Nevertheless, there is reason to perceive these words of Zelensky as part of a diplomatic bluff and smokescreen designed to “normalize” the routine negotiation process with Moscow at the level of second-level officials.
While the media and ordinary people will be guessing whether the Zelensky-Putin meeting will take place, Medinsky and Yermak will calmly discuss the real issues on the agenda. And Zelensky himself will dodge potentially unpleasant questions about himself: how did it happen that the negotiations with Russia, which he personally banned, are still taking place.
The credit goes to the US, not Zelensky: What the Western press is writing about the Istanbul meeting