France warns of pitfalls in Ukraine-Russia peace talks

    
• Lack of ceasefire: This is one of the main obstacles in negotiations.
• Demilitarization of Ukraine: It could deprive the country of security guarantees.
• Lifting of sanctions: Barrot emphasizes that this should not happen at the beginning of the talks.

Jean-Noel Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, warns against three traps that could derail peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The first of these is the lack of a ceasefire, which previously contributed to the failure of talks in Istanbul in 2022.

Barrot recalled that the first trap is conducting discussions without a ceasefire. The massacre in Bucha, committed by Russia, contributed to the failure of negotiations in 2022.

Another trap is the attempt to impose demilitarization on Ukraine. Such a move could deprive the country of necessary security guarantees. The third trap is the desire to lift sanctions against Russia at the beginning of negotiations, which, according to Barrot, should only happen at their conclusion.

He added that European countries want to accompany Ukraine in these peace negotiations because they desire peace. At the same time, they are preparing massive sanctions on oil and the financial sector so that (Russian leader) Vladimir Putin will continue to avoid starting peace negotiations

A meeting of NATO countries' foreign ministers is underway in Antalya, Turkey. The ongoing discussions aim to prepare NATO for the summit in The Hague, where further steps in response to the growing threat from Russia will be discussed.

NATO plans to increase defense spending in response to the growing threat from Russia. NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, proposed a compromise in the form of increasing spending to 3.5% of GDP.

The talks in Antalya will conclude with a press conference, where NATO's further plans will be presented. Will the traps be avoided, and a lasting peace achieved?