Diplomatic tension around the conflict in Ukraine reaches a critical point, after the United States sent a clear message to the Russian Federation. President Donald Trump set an ultimatum of 50 days to reach an agreement between the Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.
Today's meeting in Istanbul appears to be a key moment in attempts to de-escalate the military conflict. Representatives from both sides will try to find common ground despite the extremely tense situation.
The Kremlin, however, remains skeptical about the possibility of a breakthrough. The spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin categorically stated that Russia intends to continue with its initially set military strategic goals.
The previous two rounds of negotiations failed to achieve significant progress. The only tangible result was a humanitarian gesture – the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers from both sides.
The American ultimatum puts Russia in a serious challenge, clearly hinting at potential strict economic sanctions in the absence of constructive dialogue.