Leaders from Europe convening at a summit in Tirana, Albania, have expressed their willingness to impose stringent new sanctions on Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to skip peace talks in Istanbul and his refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
Despite this, a low-level Russian delegation attended the first in-person discussions with Ukrainian officials in Istanbul this morning, facilitated by the Turkish foreign minister.
As approximately 47 leaders from both EU and non-EU nations arrived in the Albanian capital, sentiments regarding the Russian president were intensifying.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Mr. Putin erred by sending a low-level delegation to Istanbul.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the EU is prepared to expedite new sanctions targeting Russian oil exports and its financial sector.
In Istanbul, ahead of the first direct engagement between Russian and Ukrainian officials in three years, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed skepticism about a potential breakthrough.
Moscow has suggested that discussions should resume from where they were interrupted shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion. However, the Kremlin’s prior demands effectively called for an end to Ukraine as a sovereign state, making that proposal unacceptable for Kyiv.
Nevertheless, as delegates concluded their discussions, the Ukrainian defense minister confirmed when asked that the talks had been productive.
This morning, the Kremlin asserted that a meeting between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump is essential for any advancement towards peace.
