The main outcome of the second round of negotiations in Istanbul is that there will be a third round. For now, most observers believe that both sides have not abandoned the process because Trump wants negotiations. And it is not in their interest to quarrel with the nervous US president.
But the humanitarian issues I wrote about before the first round are the float that keeps the process afloat. And now it is definitely a process: just one hour of negotiations means that all the preparatory work was done by the relevant authorities in Moscow and Kiev. In other words, teams of experts have already been formed.
The return of the bodies of the dead, a new large-scale exchange of prisoners, the exchange of young, seriously wounded, and sick people—all of this alone made it worth starting. The public on both sides, which is waiting for the surrender of Zaporizhia or Crimea, will wait. The positions of Moscow and Kiev have not moved an inch closer together. But to hell with them, let them at least exchange the wounded.
To Medinsky’s delight, the issue of family reunification and the return of children has moved to a higher level. Experts and journalists immersed in the problem have previously pointed out that the actual list of children does not exceed five hundred, and even this figure is overstated. Now the Russian delegation can present a list of Ukraine’s real demands – 339 children.
Of course, compared to the 20,000 that Ukraine’s envoys have consistently talked about in international forums, it looks pale. In the third round, we can expect experts on this issue to appear in the Russian delegation. And this is to the Kremlin’s advantage.
Once the prisoners are gone, discussions on the Black Sea can begin. This involves not only free foreign trade for Ukraine, but also the cessation of shelling of the Crimean bridge. Both sides are not shelling energy and fuel facilities as long as they comply with the agreement. But this is an unwritten agreement. A real framework agreement could be prepared, into which other commitments could then be inserted.
There are also concerns. Ukraine is conducting negotiations in public, passing its documents to the press in advance. In other words, these are not even negotiations in the classical sense. No results on the main issues will be achieved in this mode.
Nevertheless, there are many opportunities to turn the negotiation process into a useful tool for both sides. The opportunities are there, but is there any interest? The second round took place against the backdrop of a phenomenal attack on Russia’s strategic aviation and a serious advance by its army on two sections of the front. Let’s wait for the third round.
Reading this feels like watching a never-ending soap opera but with more serious stakes 😂 Fingers crossed the negotiations actually do something useful this time and not just keep the drama alive. At least exchanging the wounded sounds like a win-win, even if everything else is stuck on repeat 🤞⚖️
It’s interesting to see how humanitarian concerns are acting as the main lever keeping these negotiations alive, even when the bigger political issues remain unresolved. The focus on prisoner exchanges and the return of children shows that, despite the tension, there’s still some room for cooperation and hope 🌍💔. The contrast between publicizing negotiation details and the more traditional, confidential diplomacy raises questions about how effective these talks can be, but it might also reflect the pressure both sides face domestically 📢🤔. Looking forward to seeing if the third round can build on these small but meaningful steps.
It’s intriguing how even amidst profound conflict, small gestures like exchanging the wounded or returning children can serve as fragile bridges toward understanding. Perhaps these human elements remind us that beyond politics and power struggles, there is a shared vulnerability and a hope for reconciliation that is harder to ignore. The tension between public posturing and behind-the-scenes efforts creates a delicate dance, where silence might sometimes speak louder than words. In a way, this process shows that peace is not a single event but a continuous journey, shaped by patience and the willingness to see the other’s pain. 🌿🤝
Watching these talks drag on feels like a never-ending reality show where everyone is just playing for time 😤. The humanitarian stuff is heartbreaking, but if the big political issues don’t move, what’s even the point? Sounds like both sides are more interested in scoring PR points than actually making peace. When will real action start instead of endless negotiations with no results? 🤷♂️
This article highlights the complex dynamics behind the negotiations, showing that even minimal progress like prisoner exchanges can have a significant humanitarian impact. It’s interesting how both sides are playing a careful game, balancing public pressure and strategic moves. The shift of family reunification to a higher level and the realistic numbers around children involved add a much-needed dose of practicality to an emotionally charged topic. Hopefully, this slow but steady process can pave the way for more concrete agreements, especially concerning critical issues like the Black Sea and trade. Patience seems to be key here, and I’m curious to see if genuine interest will finally emerge to make these talks more effective 🤔🌍
It’s encouraging to see that despite the many challenges and stalled positions, the humanitarian aspects like prisoner exchanges and family reunifications are being prioritized, which shows a glimmer of progress amid the conflict. The formation of expert teams suggests that groundwork is being laid for more structured talks, even if the public nature of negotiations might limit breakthroughs on bigger political issues. The mention of potential agreements on the Black Sea and the unofficial ceasefire on certain facilities adds a layer of cautious optimism. Still, it remains to be seen if both sides truly have the political will to move beyond these small steps and find common ground on the core disputes. 🤞
It’s hard not to be skeptical when the so-called negotiations seem to involve more posturing and publicity stunts than real progress. The article points out that nothing meaningful has changed between Moscow and Kiev, yet we’re told to hold faith in prisoner exchanges and humanitarian gestures while the bigger, messier issues remain untouched. Meanwhile, Ukraine airing everything publicly might be a sign of transparency or desperation, but it certainly doesn’t scream productive talks. It feels like the entire process is being dragged out just to serve political narratives rather than achieve peace. The big question is whether either side genuinely wants to resolve anything or just use these talks to buy time and regroup.
This article really captures the complexity and cautious hope that comes with these negotiations 🤔💬. It’s clear that even small steps like exchanging the wounded and returning children can make a huge difference in human lives amid such a tense conflict ❤️🤝. The fact that experts are deeply involved and that the process continues despite everything gives a spark of optimism that peace talks might still lead somewhere meaningful. It’s inspiring to see that even when political positions remain rigid, humanity can still find a way forward. Here’s hoping the third round brings real progress and less suffering for everyone involved ✨🌍.
Ah, the classic ‘we’ll agree to meet again so we can say we’re meeting’ strategy. A timeless diplomatic dance. Because nothing says progress like scheduling the next meeting to discuss why the last meeting had no progress. And the humanitarian issues are the only thing keeping this farce afloat? How utterly predictable and depressing. But hey, at least they can agree to swap some wounded people while the actual war machinery grinds on unabated in the background. What a stellar achievement. The reduction from 20,000 to 339 children really highlights the credibility we’re working with here. Peak performance. Can’t wait for round three to see what new fictional numbers and non-agreements they can produce. 🎪🤡💫
It’s heartbreaking to think of the children and families separated by this conflict. Any progress on reunification, even for a few hundred, is a tiny flicker of hope in all this darkness. Let’s cling to that and pray the negotiators can build on it for the next round. 🙏