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Will Putin chicken out? Ukraine piles on pressure on Vlad to meet Zelensky as Russia stays deathly silent on showdown
Sun UK ^ | 5/13/2025 | James Halpin

Posted on 05/13/2025 4:11:06 AM PDT by marcusmaximus

Putin could reject his own offer to Zelensky.

UKRAINE is now piling the pressure on Russia as Vladimir Putin stays silent on his own offer to meet for peace talks on Thursday.

Moscow's bungle has seen Volodymyr Zelenksy take up Vlad's offer to for a face-to-face meet in Istanbul for long-awaited negotiations between the two leaders.

But the Kremlin has gone deathly silent as Putin weighs rejecting the offer he sent to the Ukrainians.

Zelensky has filled the dead air and now said he will definitely go to Istanbul - but will only meet with his counterpart Putin and not any other members of a Russian delegation.

The Ukrainian is pressing his diplomatic advantage and says Putin is being “very strangely silent” about his own offer.

Zelensky said: "Russian shelling and assaults continue. Moscow remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting. A very strange silence.

"One way or another, Russia will have to end this war – and the sooner, the better."

Some in Russia have responded to the possible talks.

The deputy speaker of Russia's upper house said Zelensky's proposal to meet Putin was “comedy and spectacle”.

Konstantin Kosachev said Zelensky should "be afraid" of meeting Putin.

(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: addicted2tabloids; bidenstooges; botched2022treaty; chickenkiev; cmd; dailyzeeperporn; deathlycmd; deathlygobbledygook; istanbul2; omgpoootler; pootlerdyingagain; propagandapressure; putin; russia; ruzziadoomedagain; tellputinblablabla; thesuxdotcrap; ukraine; zeeperporn; zelvisfillsdeadair; zelvisneedshandheld; zelvisneedsyourcash
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To: dforest; marcusmaximus
"The Russins are nor reporting Putin is chickening out.
It is the Uke side making that up...
Now he wants to drag Trump there. LOL"

Putin did not say if he will attend personally.
Pres. Trump has already announced that he will attend if he can help out there.

41 posted on 05/13/2025 7:11:34 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: BroJoeK

Oh look, another FReeper took half the day to write me a mini-novel... which nobody will read.

You’re an idiot, and idiots LOSE - despite their delusions.


42 posted on 05/13/2025 7:19:36 AM PDT by AAABEST (That time Washington0 DC became a corrupted, existential threat to us all...)
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To: BroJoeK

Putin= “did not say”

Pres. Trump= “will attend IF”

Words mean something. none of this means anyone is “chickening out”

Perhaps the ones doing the most squawking and bragging are the ones chickening out.

How about hold your cards close to your vest, attend, and behave like a grown up.


43 posted on 05/13/2025 7:19:47 AM PDT by dforest
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: marcusmaximus

😂


45 posted on 05/13/2025 7:22:51 AM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal !!)
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To: AAABEST
"Oh look, another FReeper took half the day to write me a mini-novel... which nobody will read.
You’re an idiot, and idiots LOSE - despite their delusions."

Losers are people like yourself who cannot deal with facts & logic, but can only delve as far as your propaganda sources let you.

46 posted on 05/13/2025 7:26:31 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: dforest; marcusmaximus
"Perhaps the ones doing the most squawking and bragging are the ones chickening out.
How about hold your cards close to your vest, attend, and behave like a grown up."

What are you babbling about?
My cards? What cards?

The facts are these:

  1. Putin proposed a meeting in Istanbul on Thursday.
    He did not say he will attend.

  2. Pres. Trump urged Zelensky to accept the meeting, which Zelensky did, immediately, saying that he will be in Istanbul to meet with Putin on Thursday.

  3. Pres. Trump on Sunday said he will attend the meeting in Istanbul if it will help the negotiations.

  4. Zelensky said he will only attend if Putin is there.
That's where things stand now.
Everything else you might hear about it is just speculation and nonsense.
47 posted on 05/13/2025 7:34:27 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: Sacajaweau

“Zelensky has filled the dead air and now said he will definitely go to Istanbul - but will only meet with his counterpart Putin and not any other members of a Russian delegation.”

Russia was confused by Zelensky’s statement and asked if he wanted to meet with Putin or a counterpart. They added that they had a shortage of gay midget clowns if it was the latter.


48 posted on 05/13/2025 8:37:54 AM PDT by unlearner (Still not tired of winning.)
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To: marcusmaximus
No, your Zelensky is the one that will find an excuse not to negotiate.

Whether Putin is there or not is irrelevant.

Zelensky, the scumbags in Britain, and you, of course, don't want peace.

And, minerals deal is worthless until there is peace.

49 posted on 05/13/2025 8:41:55 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: Kazan

Putin called for the meeting in Turkey on Thursday. It was his idea in the first place. Now he’s chickening out of his own meeting?


50 posted on 05/13/2025 8:46:59 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
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51 posted on 05/13/2025 9:46:31 AM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("...mit Pulver und Blei, Die Gedanken sind frei!")
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To: CatHerd

Then I guess Putin, who proposed the meeting, is an ignoramus.

And don’t tell me what never happens. Trump breaks those rules every day.

Zelensky has already traveled there for the meeting, at Trump’s request.

So your little lecture is absolutely meaningless.


52 posted on 05/13/2025 12:28:13 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: Williams

Did Truman or Eisenhower ever personally attend the Korean peace negotiations?

How about Nixon and Ho Chi Minh? Nope, neither ever showed up at the Paris Peace talks. Negotiations were led by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho.

Zelensky foolishly painted himself into a corner with his silly law banning negotiations with Russia, which he now claims does not apply to him and only him (because he’s Special).

Putin offered “direct talks” between the two sides. That means representatives of each side meet without going through a third party. It does not mean heads of state meet face to face.


53 posted on 05/13/2025 1:00:24 PM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: Williams

“Hey bizarro, the proposal to meet in Istanbul on Thursday was made by your hero Putin. Now you read that he’s planning to stay away.”

I’m sorry, WHEN did Putin say that he would be going to Istanbul?

Just kidding - you KNOW FULL WELL that he never said that.


54 posted on 05/13/2025 6:07:15 PM PDT by BobL
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To: BroJoeK; AAABEST; PIF; gleeaikin; Timber Rattler

“Ukrainians & Europeans have no choices except to keep fighting & supporting Ukraine, so long as Russian forces occupy Ukrainian territories.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><

To BroJoeK :

Indeed.
As long as Russia continues to violate international law by invading sovereign nations, deploying North Korean Communist forces onto European soil, and supporting Islamist terrorist regimes like Iran, the European Union will have no choice but to stand firm and apply *Law and Order* policies - that’s what conservatives do. The EU will continue to finance and support Ukraine’s highly effective military defense — not just for Ukraine’s sake, but for Europe’s security as a whole.

Ukraine has become the EU’s first line of defense against the aggressive advance of the Russia–North Korea–Iran axis — a bloc built on Islamism, NeoSovietism and Communism - united in its hatred for the EU and America.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To AAABEST :
Given this reality, your position raises questions... You sound like a staunch supporter of the Iran–Russia–North Korea alliance. So tell me — what exactly appeals to you about Islamism, NeoSovietism and communism?

It’s an odd stance, especially on a conservative platform like FR.


55 posted on 05/13/2025 7:12:31 PM PDT by USA-FRANCE (Silence against evil isn't neutrality, it's complicity. Oppose the Iran-Russia-North Korea Alliance!)
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To: CatHerd; Williams; USA-FRANCE; marcusmaximus
CatHerd: "Did Truman or Eisenhower ever personally attend the Korean peace negotiations?"

When President-elect Eisenhower visited South Korea in December 1952, he met with South Korea's president, Syngman Rhee, who urged an all-out assault on North Korea.
Eisenhower did not meet with either NoKos or Chinese representatives.

Negotiations for an armistice in Korea took two years and 17 days, including 158 meetings.
The armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
It remains in effect today, over 70 years later.

CatHerd: "How about Nixon and Ho Chi Minh?
Nope, neither ever showed up at the Paris Peace talks.
Negotiations were led by Kissinger and Le Duc Tho."

Negotiations leading to the January 1973 "Paris Peace Accords" with North Vietnam took over five years.
The result was not "peace", but unilateral surrender by US forces and abandonment of our South Vietnamese allies, leading to their collapse under North Vietnamese assaults in April, 1975.

CatHerd: "Zelensky foolishly painted himself into a corner with his silly law banning negotiations with Russia, which he now claims does not apply to him and only him (because he’s Special)."

In October 2022, Ukraine's Pres. Zelensky issued a decree (similar to a US president's executive order) saying it was impossible to negotiate with Russia's Pres. Putin.
Zelensky's decree was intended to prevent other Ukrainians from negotiating with Russia.
Zelensky can interpret, modify or cancel his October 2022 decree at his own discretion.

CatHerd: "Putin offered “direct talks” between the two sides.
That means representatives of each side meet without going through a third party.
It does not mean heads of state meet face to face."

Right, Putin did not offer to meet with Zelensky, and Zelensky said he will only attend if Putin is there.
Pres. Trump has said he will attend if he can help the process, though it may be that Trump is sending Rubio in his place.

Bottom line: both Korea (1953) and Vietnam (1973) are examples of US "peace negotiations", both took years to conclude and neither was entirely satisfactory.
Indeed, the 1973 Paris Peace Accords amounted to outright US surrender.
I doubt if Pres. Trump intends to repeat either of those patterns in Ukraine.
I'm sure Trump expects face-to-face negotiations will speed up the process from years to weeks or months and perhaps produce results better than abject US surrender (Vietnam) or a war that officially continues to this day (Korea), over 70 years later.

56 posted on 05/14/2025 4:48:40 AM PDT by BroJoeK (future DDG 134 -- we remember)
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To: BroJoeK

Twist and turn to force history to match your opinions all you like. People do it all the time.

But the fact is, heads of state only meet when thorny contentious issues have already been ironed out by their negotiators and an agreement hammered out. There are very good reasons why this is so.

Even at Camp David, the heads of state only met after previous negotiations and each brought their own negotiating teams to do the bulk of the work. Begin and Sadat very rarely met face to face, with Carter bouncing back and forth between them like a ping pong ball.

As for Zelensky’z decree:


“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree formally stating that Ukraine will refuse to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while still leaving open the prospect of talks with Russia under a different president.

The decree, signed on Tuesday (4 October), officially formalises Zelensky’s comments on Friday (30 September) that Ukraine is ready for dialogue “but with another president of Russia”. “

(snip)

The decree is a response to Putin’s annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 30 September...”

Link: https://www.commonspace.eu/news/zelensky-signs-decree-formally-ruling-out-negotiations-putin


The same as above was widely reported by Western and Ukrainian media. Sometime later, it was “clarified” that it was meant to outlaw illegitimate negotiations by unauthorized Ukrainians.

Frankly, it reads like it was issued in a fit of pique. If the goal was to prevent unauthorized negotiations, the decree would have stated that only the president (and possibly those specifically designated by him) could conduct negotiations.

It’s, um, interesting, that having outlawed negotiations with Putin, Zelensky is now insisting on Putin’s presence at the Istanbul talks.

Why would Trump expect face-to-face negotiations between heads of state to speed up the process? He himself appointed Rubio to go, signalling this was to be negotiations at the Foreign Minister/SecState level. It’s better if diplomats do the arguing. Trump himself has remarked on Zelensky’s and Putin’s hatred for one another. Negotiations will naturally go more smoothly minus the personal animosity between the two leaders.

My take: Trump has teased that he might go to Istanbul “if the talks go well”. That’s another signal that at least some basics need be already agreed before heads of state step in. Putin will only go if Trump goes. Trump will only go if there is a tangible benefit — and if Putin goes.

If Zelensky can bend his decree to exclude himself, he can bend it to exclude his duly appointed and publicly named representative(s). If he truly wants to negotiate a lasting peace, he’ll do that. Or -— if there is no one he trusts to negotiate — then show up himself and negotiate with Lavrov.

Right now, it looks like Zelensky is trying to impose a precondition by inappropriately insisting on Putin’s presence as a way to wriggle out and blame it all on Putin, when in reality he’s the one one playing games and obstructing.

In Zelensky’s defense, who can blame him? He cannot settle for anything less than complete Russian capitulation (which obviously won’t happen) or the Banderites in the SBU will have his head. If he gives so much as an inch, he seals his own death warrant. It’s tragic.


57 posted on 05/14/2025 10:22:59 AM PDT by CatHerd (Whoever said "all's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: Sacajaweau

“I’ll take a wait and see. Putin doesn’t want “Z” loading up weapons...”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Z-Putin is the one loading up weapons. 40% of Russia’s entire national budget is now oriented towards war against Ukraine and its behind the scenes aggressive moves against the West.

Russia’s economy is on life support, heavily relying on its weapons industry (MIC). If the war ends, Russia will collapse. It can’t afford peace anymore, too much has already been invested for its war. Thus, continued war is Russia’s only plan.


58 posted on 05/14/2025 1:32:40 PM PDT by USA-FRANCE (Silence against evil isn't neutrality, it's complicity. Oppose the Iran-Russia-North Korea Alliance!)
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To: USA-FRANCE

That’s the thing. We know all kinds of shipments are on the way to “Z”. More weapons does not equate to “Peace”.


59 posted on 05/14/2025 1:44:31 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: BroJoeK

You’d be dangerous if you knew anything about history. The Paris Peace Accords negotiated by Nixon and Kissinger did not even remotely equal a Surrender by the United States.
The Accords recognized South Vietnam’s border and were the result of Nixon pounding the North Vietnamese into submission by finally bombing hanoi’s Harbor.
After Nixon was chased from office North Vietnam launched a massive tank attack in violation of the Paris Peace Accords and the Democrats in Congress refused President Ford’s request to even give the South Vietnamese any military equipment.
But why let reality stand in the way of your lectures.


60 posted on 05/14/2025 3:18:58 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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