UK prime minister accuses Putin of shunning peace talks
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, has stated that Vladimir Putin is not serious about peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine. He made this statement after the Russian leader failed to attend the relevant negotiations in Istanbul.
Upon arriving at the European Political Community summit in Tirana, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented on Vladimir Putin's absence from the Istanbul negotiations concerning the war in Ukraine. "I think what we saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace. He's been dragging his heels," said Starmer.
He also highlighted the need for close collaboration with international partners to implement additional sanctions against Russia. He stressed that aligning strategies with allies is a key priority and noted that, alongside efforts to reach a ceasefire, there must be coordinated planning for sanctions in case those efforts fail.
Putin's absence from the negotiations in Istanbul
The talks between delegations from the USA, Ukraine, and Turkey concluded in Istanbul, aiming to end the war in Ukraine. Despite initial expectations, the meeting did not yield a breakthrough as neither Vladimir Putin nor the US President attended.
For some time, it seemed possible that Putin and Zelenskyy would personally meet in Turkey. The Ukrainian President was ready for such a meeting, but the Russian leader decided not to come to Istanbul.
New EU sanctions on Russia
The EU's Head of Diplomacy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, announced another sanctions package on Russia. On Wednesday, EU countries preliminarily accepted the 17th package, which includes sanctions on further Russian ships from the so-called shadow fleet and stipulates restrictions against Russian prosecutors and judges involved in repressions against opposition figures Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
