Only a 2h meeting, Ukraine rejects Russia’s solutions, no date for next talks, Pope Leo offers Vatican venue, says it’s ‘tragic’ – and Selensky still demands to meet Putin

After yesterday’s terrible prelude, today was a day of reckoning.

Yesterday, the Ukrainians did not come for peace talks, today they did not want to talk about peace. They simple turned away Russia’s proposals as unacceptable and left after ca. 2h of a ceremonial meeting

The Russian delegation waited since yesterday in Istanbul, the Ukrainians only arrived today. The Turkish Foreign Minister formally greeted the delegations, and it seems they started their discussion – in Russian. A translator was not necessary. The Ukrainian mother tongue is majorly Russian. At least the delegations understood each other.

Finally, they agreed on the exchange of 1000 prisoners each. Nothing else. Even not on the next possible date of a meeting to talk peace.

The Russians proposed the meeting in Istanbul as a response to European threats. V Selensky, with a huge media coverage started a clownesque show, first refusing peace talks, then demanding the presence of Vladimir Putin, and finally, Selensky did not come as well … all his show provoked one day delay.  And he again and still demands to meet Putin personally. For what?

The Guardian, surprisingly, and this time honestly writes: “The meeting represents a symbolic win for Putin and will likely be seen as a setback for Zelenskyy. ” But The Guardian can’t blame Selensky for the disaster and for the many soldiers and people that will further die because of the clown in Kiew.

It was evident from the beginning that Selensky did not consider the meeting in Istanbul, which was suggested by Putin and supported by Donald Trump, worth to attend, or even worth to get seriously involved to talk about peace. The whole event was turned by Selensky into an insult on Putin and an offense against the US side. It was worse than the 2022 Istanbul meeting when the Ukrainians simply left the table without, at least, insulting the other side.

Pope Leo is right saying that the outcome of the negotiations was ‘tragic’. But he stopped short of blaming Ukraine. The Vatican offers its venue for a possible next peace conference.