For the first time in three years, representatives of Ukraine and Russia met face to face for negotiations. At the same time, nothing has changed for the people of Ukraine - the war continues to sow death. Voices from Kiev:
The negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine have ended in Istanbul. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the negotiations on a possible end to the war in Ukraine, carried out with the mediation of Turkey, lasted about an hour and a half.
According to Reuters, the Ukrainian side stated that Russia's demands during the talks were unrealistic and went beyond anything that had been discussed before.
Spurned hopes
These were the first direct negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine since 2022, and Vladimir Putin's refusal to participate in the talks from the very beginning dashed hopes for significant results.
At the same time, the day began with the news that Russia had again attacked Ukraine with more than 100 drones that night. People in the capital Kiev were again woken up early in the morning by an air raid. And a little later, the military again warned of Russian missile attacks.
In other words: for the people of Ukraine, nothing has changed. And so it is not at all surprising that from the very beginning, skepticism about the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Turkey prevailed.
Russia does not take the negotiations seriously and demonstrates it in every way - with the composition of its delegation, with its approach in general, Yuri Bilus told the German public broadcaster ARD from Kiev, adding: "Our position is: we are showing readiness, our president is there. The whole world must see that this is the game of one person who sends pseudo-negotiators from Russia".
"No, we have no expectations. But we must negotiate so that the whole world can see this and support us", says Olha, who also lives in Kiev.
A man named Andriy is more categorical. As long as there is no ceasefire, there is no point in negotiations, he believes. "The Russians are sending some kind of delegation. We should send someone who is one level lower. Some chairman of a village council, for example. And let them negotiate there", the man is indignant.
The people in Ukraine want nothing more than an end to the war. At the same time, the pressure on the front is increasing noticeably, and experts expect a new Russian offensive. According to Ukrainian estimates, over 1,000 Russian soldiers die in the fighting every day. It is not known how many servicemen die on the Ukrainian side. But the losses in the Ukrainian armed forces are also high, ARD writes.
Olexander from Kiev hopes for a quick end to the bloody war. "Our soldiers on the front line are suffering, and the people in the occupied territories are suffering too. "I want this to stop," says Oleksandr, adding that he hopes for an agreement "under reasonable conditions that are at least a little good for us."
Yevgeny Bobrovsky is not holding back any hope. "I think President Zelensky is doing what most Ukrainians expect of him, but will it work? The only thing Putin understands is violence. He doesn't understand dialogue. This is just a meeting in Turkey, and then everything will continue as before."
"Putin doesn't want peace"
From the Ukrainian side, the negotiations in Turkey are primarily a signal to US President Donald Trump, according to most political observers in Ukraine. A few days ago, Trump called for immediate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, because, in his opinion, this is the only way to determine whether an agreement is possible.
A question that people in Ukraine no longer ask themselves. The answer is obvious, says political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko in an interview with the Ukrainian TV channel "Apostrophe". "Putin does not want peace. The outcome of these so-called negotiations in Istanbul was absolutely predictable from the very beginning," says the political scientist.
And Ukraine has no choice but to try to clearly show the American president that it wants an immediate cessation of hostilities - and that to this end it is ready to negotiate with the aggressor Russia.