Posted on 02/28/2025 7:41:28 AM PST by marcusmaximus
A suggestion by the Trump administration’s top negotiator that an Ukraine peace deal would be based on talks conducted in Istanbul nearly three years ago has buoyed Russian officials and spooked Ukraine and its backers.
To Kyiv, recent remarks by Steve Witkoff appeared to embrace the Kremlin’s key, and incorrect, talking point over the past three years: that Ukraine and Russia were about to strike a peace deal in Istanbul, and that Kyiv walked away from an agreement under pressure from Western politicians, such as then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly demanded that any future peace talks be based on a return to the Istanbul parameters, which in Moscow’s interpretation foresee a sharp cut in Ukraine’s military, a ban on foreign weapons and troops, and a Russian veto on Western security assistance in case of renewed conflict. Ukraine refuses to return to that draft, which was never completed or approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
-snip-
The Istanbul talks were convened as Russian tanks were on the Kyiv ring road, a culmination of negotiations that began shortly after the Feb. 24, 2022, Russian invasion. They reflected the battlefield situation when Ukraine’s statehood was on the verge of collapse, and Russia was dictating terms for a surrender.
Russian troops, however, were defeated around Kyiv and the rest of northern Ukraine just as negotiators gathered in the Turkish city, and Ukraine has since then reclaimed additional areas of Kharkiv and Kherson regions. No documents were signed in Istanbul, and the two sides were wide apart on key issues.
Zelensky ordered an end to these talks once Ukrainian troops found hundreds of executed civilians in the town of Bucha near Kyiv following the Russian retreat.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Apparently they’ve never been to a mediation.
A good mediator scared the crap out of both sides so they make a deal.
“It’s a framework”
It was not then and is not now a “framework”.
It was what Putin wanted to demand, and that’s all it was.
The best the U.S. can do is to completely disregard it.
How embarrassing for Ukraine to peddle a fiction like this..the Ghost of Kiev lives on in their imagination.
and Ukraine has since then reclaimed additional areas of Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
My understanding is Ukraine has lost the territory it "reclaimed" in Kharkov and the decision to leave Kherson in 2023 was strategic and done in an orderly fashion.
That this crap gets posted as "news" in a major US newspaper borders on criminal.
To Kyiv, recent remarks by Steve Witkoff appeared to embrace the Kremlin’s key, and incorrect, talking point over the past three years: that Ukraine and Russia were about to strike a peace deal in Istanbul, and that Kyiv walked away from an agreement under pressure from Western politicians, such as then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Actually, Johnson did pressure Z not to negotiate.
-snip-
Russian troops, however, were defeated around Kyiv and the rest of northern Ukraine just as negotiators gathered in the Turkish city, and Ukraine has since then reclaimed additional areas of Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
False. Russian troops were not defeated - wherever Russia withdraws troops the Ukrainians claim they fought for that region and 'won' against Russian troops. Russia has had air dominance and Ukraine has had 'insufficient air defenses' to the point which Ukraine has entire cities without a single standing building, according to Trump. Ukraine doesn't have anough arms or men to fight. Ukraine's infrastructure has been so severely damaged there's not much to return home to for refugees.
No documents were signed in Istanbul, and the two sides were wide apart on key issues.
Zelensky ordered an end to these talks once Ukrainian troops found hundreds of executed civilians in the town of Bucha near Kyiv following the Russian retreat.
False, unless the Azov's were busy. The kursk 'incursion' the Ukrainians bragged about included mercenary troops with the Ukrainians firing upon Russian civilians, ambulances etc. Hard to get fair reporting on these issues - but Zelensky has done very little to protect his people as Ukraine is the proxy for NATO's war against Russia.
Oh Dear, your Zelensky really screwed up today.
You should tell your Zelensky to improve his Homo Dance 'cause it's not working.
I have told my President Trump and my Vice President Vance that they are doing a Great Job in humiliating your Nazi Warmonger Dictator Zelensky.
Agree. I think the big mistake many are assuming is Europe needs the US and they’ll take any deals Trump proposes. They don’t. They have nukes. Can get energy from Russia. Increase trade and political alignment with China. They can always cut Putin in on rebuilding Ukraine as a bribe to stop his warmongering temporarily. Then back to business as almost usual. With or without the US. No difference to them.
Witkoff is Trump’s real estate developer golf buddy. It’s pretty clear he is getting his “history” on this topic from the likes of Tucker and other self interested Twitter news entertainment personalities.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.