World leaders unite as Ukraine-Russia talks hit impasse
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reported that he had just held a conversation with President Donald Trump. Starmer is currently in Albania alongside Donald Tusk, Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, and Volodymyr Zelensky. Their discussion focused on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia negotiations taking place in Turkey.
"We just had a meeting with President Zelensky and then a phone call with President Trump to discuss the developments in the negotiations today," said the British Prime Minister to journalists in Tirana, Albania, as reported by Sky News.
Starmer also referred to the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations that concluded on Friday afternoon in Istanbul. "The Russian position is clearly unacceptable, and not for the first time," he pointed out.
"So as a result of that meeting with President Zelenskyy and that call with President Trump, we are now closely aligning our responses and will continue to do so," he emphasized.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that during discussions with President Trump, they agreed it is unacceptable for Russia to ignore the demands put forth by the United States, which are supported by Ukraine and European partners. He emphasized that there has been no progress toward a ceasefire and no engagement at a meaningful decision-making level.
He added that the events of the last few hours have made it clear that Russia does not seek a ceasefire. He warned that without increased pressure from Europe and the United States, there is little hope that the fighting will come to an end on its own.
"Spoke with POTUS together with President Macron, Federal Chancellor Merz, Prime Ministers Starmer and Tusk. We discussed the meeting in Istanbul. Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace, and it is important that the world holds a strong stance," informed Volodymyr Zelensky on social media.
"Our position — if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow. Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war Thank you to everyone in the world who is helping," he underscored.
End of negotiations in Istanbul
On Friday in Istanbul, the first direct talks between representatives of Russian and Ukrainian authorities took place in three years.
According to Reuters, citing sources, there are currently no signs of progress regarding a possible convergence of the parties' positions. A source in Ukrainian diplomacy, quoted by the agency, stated that the demands presented on Friday by the Russian delegation to the Ukrainian side in Istanbul are unrealistic and go beyond anything discussed so far.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that among the topics discussed in Istanbul were: a ceasefire, prisoner exchange, and a potential meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, reported that Russians are "satisfied" with the talks. He confirmed Umerov's words, indicating that "in the coming days, there will be a prisoner exchange of 1,000 for 1,000."
