What to expect if Putin visits Istanbul: Expert explains Kremlin's true intentions
Photo: Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
If Vladimir Putin comes to Istanbul for negotiations on the war in Ukraine, nothing will come of it. It will be yet another attempt by the Kremlin to influence the peace talks, Ukrainian political analyst Taras Zahorodniy says in an interview on the YouTube channel of RBC-Ukraine.
According to Zahorodniy, the Russian dictator will once again push ideas that have no prospects for Ukraine.
"He (Putin - ed.) will talk again, wave around a piece of paper he calls the 'Istanbul agreements.' (He'll say - ed.) that Ukraine must reduce its army, hand over the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to him, and everything else. Oh, and he'll talk a bit more about the Pechenegs, and about the existence of a 'thousand-year Russia,'" Ukrainian political analyst said.
Zahorodniy emphasized that regardless of whether Putin participates personally or not, no real results should be expected.
Ukrainian political analyst also noted that Russia is not even agreeing to the proposed 30-day ceasefire.
Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
Earlier, Putin proposed to hold negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on May 15 in Istanbul, starting from where they left off in 2022.
However, as of now, the Russian dictator has not given his consent to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Türkiye. Talks between Ukraine and Russia are being planned, but the level at which they will take place remains unknown.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated at a press conference that Ukraine has so far considered only a meeting with Putin.
