Camilla Jessen
With Ukraine ready for unconditional negotiations and Istanbul talks looming, pressure mounts on Moscow to engage.
Berlin has publicly called on the Kremlin to make a “decisive step forward” toward peace, signaling a shift in tone just days before possible Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized that Ukraine has already shown its readiness for unconditional talks, including a ceasefire and a potential peace agreement.
“Russia must take a decisive step forward and show its willingness to sit at the negotiating table,” Wadephul told reporters in Berlin, as reported by AFP and relayed by Agerpres and Digi24.
With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky extending an invitation to Vladimir Putin to meet in Istanbul, the spotlight now turns to Moscow’s response—or lack thereof.
Putin’s Silence Weighs Heavily as Deadline Nears
Kyiv issued a stark warning on Tuesday: if Putin declines to attend the Istanbul meeting, it would serve as a definitive sign that the Kremlin is not serious about ending the war.
So far, Moscow has refused to comment on Zelensky’s proposal, further fueling speculation about Russia’s willingness to engage in good-faith negotiations.
The potential Istanbul summit has become a litmus test for Russian intentions.
In the lead-up, Ukraine and its Western allies have coordinated a clear demand—agree to a full, unconditional ceasefire by Monday, May 12, or face sweeping new sanctions.
Europe Unites Behind a New Wave of Sanctions
On Monday, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK, alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, convened in London. Their message was unanimous: time is running out.
They warned Moscow that without movement toward a “just and lasting peace,” Russia would be hit with even tougher economic penalties.
Among the measures discussed: curbing Russia’s energy exports, tightening the oil price cap, undermining the so-called “ghost fleet” used to bypass sanctions, and further limiting Russian revenue streams. “Ambitious” steps, as the ministers described them, designed to strike at the heart of Russia’s war machinery.
Ukraine’s openness to unconditional talks, combined with the 30-day ceasefire proposal backed by Europe and the U.S., sets the stage for a potential breakthrough—or a deeper freeze in relations.
The upcoming days will test whether Moscow is ready to recalibrate its approach or double down on isolation.