Mark Rutte. Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ukraine officially arrives in Turkey for peace talks. NATO says it all depends on Russia’s attendance. The peace process has been boosted by US efforts, but now it’s Moscow’s turn.
Before the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that Kyiv was ready for a ceasefire and immediate dialogue, but that the success of this process depended on Russia’s willingness to join the talks.
“The ball is now in Russia’s court: they have to explain what they are doing, why they are here or why they are not here, with which team. Ukraine wants to start negotiations as soon as possible,” Rutte said, as quoted by Ukrinform.
Russia should take a step
According to the NATO secretary general, the intervention of the United States and President Trump has helped to move the settlement process forward. Now everything depends on Moscow’s decisions.
“I’m still cautiously optimistic that the Russians will also want to play this ball, not just the Ukrainians. Ukrainians are already doing it,” Rutte said.
Turkey is a key intermediary
According to the Secretary General, Turkey plays an important role in launching a new round of negotiations, as it maintains trust on both sides of the conflict and has the “power of persuasion” to facilitate a peaceful settlement.
“This is a serious venue. But it all depends on whether the Russians will show up here in the right line-up,” he stressed.
The next few days, diplomats believe, will be crucial for assessing Russia’s readiness to compromise and determining the trajectory of potential peace agreements.
