The proposal by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Ukraine to hold direct negotiations in Istanbul, according to political commentators, is considered the next diplomatic strategy of the Russian side. This was stated by political scientist Ivan Preobrazhensky in his commentary to Deutsche Welle.
According to the expert, Moscow's proposal primarily served to give former US President Donald Trump a positive impression of Russia's readiness for negotiations. However, at the same time, it was planned to preserve the Russian armed forces' ability to continue military operations.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the invitation sharply and clearly - he expressed his readiness to personally visit Istanbul on May 15 and hold talks directly with Putin. This statement, according to Preobrazhensky, ruined the planned political games of the Russian side.
The US and the European Union unanimously warned of the possibility of new sanctions against Russia. This situation forces the Russian Federation to make specific proposals for the peace process, the political scientist emphasizes.
"As a result of Putin's political manipulations, he himself is now under diplomatic pressure. If he wants to show that Ukraine is not ready for negotiations, now he can do this only through a real and well-founded peace plan," Preobrazhensky noted.
According to the expert, the Russian leader may react to possible diplomatic pressure as "insulting his international reputation." However, this time not only the US, but also European countries may reject such a position and put up for discussion a new package of sanctions.
