As Türkiye hosts the third round of direct Russia–Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Maksym Skrypchenko, President of the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, provided commentary to Anadolu Agency on the outlook for these negotiations.
“We can be reasonably confident that there will be some humanitarian wins during this round of talks, as this has already been discussed between the teams,” Skrypchenko told AA, referring to past agreements on prisoner exchanges and repatriation of fallen soldiers.
He noted that these humanitarian achievements—while limited in scope—should not be underestimated. They not only offer relief to families but also signal that some channels of communication remain functional despite the broader deadlock.
Skrypchenko also pointed to the political divergence between both sides, as evidenced by the memoranda exchanged in previous rounds, which revealed irreconcilable positions on key territorial and security issues.
“The substance of the proposals must evolve first. A leaders’ meeting is likely only necessary for a breakthrough once the foundational positions have moved closer together.”
According to the TDC President, unless there is meaningful movement in the negotiating frameworks, any high-level summit risks becoming symbolic rather than substantive.
As the conflict enters its fourth year, the TDC continues to monitor diplomatic developments closely, advocating for a principled and realistic approach to negotiations that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, prioritizes human security, and ensures that any settlement is not achieved at the expense of justice or long-term regional stability.
Read the full article: Anadolu Agency
