Russia and Ukraine delegates are meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, today to resume peace talks. But the Kremlin has once again swerved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request for a high-profile summit, the only meeting he believes could lead to peace in his country.
In the run-up to today’s meeting, Moscow dampened hopes for any breakthrough, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying not to expect any “miracles”. He said: “There is no reason to expect any breakthroughs in the category of miracles – it is hardly possible in the current situation. We intend to pursue our interests, we intend to ensure our interests and fulfil the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning.” The peace talks come at a difficult time for Mr Zelensky, who on Tuesday saw the first major protest erupt in Kyiv since the beginning of the war. Local fury was prompted after the Ukrainian president signed a law targeting the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. The move rattled the European Union too, with the Commission saying it was “seriously concerned” about the legislation.
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