Kyiv and Moscow likely hoping to keep Trump happypublished at 11:39 British Summer Time
Liza Fokht
BBC Russian, reporting from Istanbul
Image source, Getty ImagesLast Wednesday US President Donald Trump said he believed in about two weeks’ time it would become clear whether or not Putin was “tapping us along”
There’s little hope the Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul will yield a breakthrough.
The atmosphere around the negotiations is far from promising.
Moscow has still not handed over a document outlining its demands – something Kyiv has said is essential for a productive meeting.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian proposals leaked yesterday by news agency Reuters are unlikely to satisfy Russia.
The mood in the Russian delegation has likely soured after recent successful Ukrainian strikes on airfields inside Russian territory.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to endure unprecedented drone attacks across its cities.
Last week Trump criticised Putin over Ukraine attacks
So why are both sides still showing up at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace today?
Likely, to avoid angering US President Donald Trump, who sees the mere fact of the meeting as a personal diplomatic win.
Both Moscow and Kyiv are seeking to gain leverage through their relationship with the White House.
Skipping the talks could have risked straining ties with Washington DC.
