Ukraine and Russia are set to meet in Istanbul for a second round of talks on Monday, but Kyiv is unlikely to attend unless Moscow provides its peace terms in advance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of sabotaging the potential meeting by not presenting a clear agenda.
Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the conditions under which Ukraine would participate in the Istanbul meeting, with Zelenskyy emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and an end to killings. The Ukrainian president also mentioned a possible four-way meeting with Russia, Turkey, and the US leaders.
US Senator Lindsey Graham warned Moscow that it will face new sanctions if it doesn’t take concrete actions to resolve the conflict. Graham accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to drag out the peace process and downplayed the significance of the Istanbul meeting.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Russia’s actions in Ukraine, calling them “stubborn” and criticizing their bombing campaigns. Experts warn that pro-Kremlin websites are spreading disinformation about Ukrainian refugees in Poland ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.
In related news, a 21-year-old man has been jailed for 15 years on allegations he guided missile attacks for Russia. The Ukrainian security service says the man was working on behalf of Russian special services and was caught spying near a military facility.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/31/ukraine-war-briefing-zelenskyy-accuses-moscow-of-doing-everything-it-can-to-sabotage-peace-talks