LOS ANGELES.–Meeting in Istanbul for a first round of ceasefire and peace talks, Russia and Ukraine make good progress in clarifying their positions for an eventual settlement. While both sides look far apart, at least they’re talking in a civilized manner, despite 47-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky feeling insulted and disrespected that 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t show up on Zelensky’s timetable. It would inappropriate for Putin to show up to a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky until the contours of a workable ceasefire and peace deal are worked out in advance. No world leader negotiating any deal, business, war or peace, starts a face-to-face meetings without working out all the details in advance. Putin sent a qualified advance team to Istanbul to show his good faith in resolving the over three-year-old conflict.
Zelensky has been shooting off his mouth making the most inappropriate comments imaginable while saying he wants a ceasefire and peace deal. How can’t Zelensky say he feels “disrespected” by Putin because he didn’t jump through his hoops at Zelensky’s behest? Now Zelensky joins the European Union in threatening to slap more harsh economic sanctions on the Kremlin because Putin didn’t show up for a premature meeting. Zelensky actions speak louder than words, showing for all to see that he doesn’t want a peace deal because of all the sovereign land he’d be forced to give up. After three years of war, where does Zelensky think Putin is obligated to give all of Ukraine’s land back? Zelensky opted for war with the Kremlin Feb. 24, 2022 and now must deal with the consequences, with all U.S. and EU help, of losing the over three-year-old war.
Zelensky has been gaslighting the European Union into thinking that 78-year-old President Donald Trump doesn’t have Ukraine’s best interests in mind. EU officials led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have led Zelensky to think he’s calling the shots. Because he demands that Putin show up at a time of his pleasing, doesn’t mean Putin is obligated to do it. When it comes to slapping Putin with more sanctions, it’s completely counterproductive if the EU thinks it wants peace in Ukraine. Since Zelensky demanded that the EU get involved with the peace process, they’ve done nothing but muck up the process. Trump had Putin moving toward a peace deal without all the EU’s threats of more sanctions. Putin won’t respond to EU coercion only to mutual respect.
Instead of hailing the presence of both warring parties in Istanbul, Zelensky and the EU have only threatened Putin for not showing up at the preliminary talks. “Overall, we are satisfied with the results and ready to continue contacts,” said Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky. Medinsky said both sides would “present their vision of a possible future ceasefire,” showing that progress was in fact made. Yet Zelensky and the EU have meddled in the process, demanding that Putin be present when the process has just begun. Heads of state have the final say but they don’t make unilateral decisions without a detailed process that comes beforehand. Ukraine’s top negotiator, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, said both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners-of-war each from both sides. Well, if that’s no progress then what is? Both sides did their jobs in good faith.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who mediated the talks, said both sides “agreed in principle to meet again,” agreeing to present a ceasefire agreement in writing. Zelensky said Putin was “afraid” of the meeting and not taking the talks “seriously.” Macron and other EU officials must reign in Zelensky’s public criticisms knowing that it’s counterproductive and only likely to delay ceasefire and peace talks. Zelensky has been pushing the EU and U.S. to slap Putin with more economic sanctions if Putin didn’t show up to direct talks. Putin has done what any head-of-state would do to send a delegation to Istanbul to negotiate in good faith, already resulting in a 2,000-man prisoner swap. Zelensky’s insults of Putin not taking the talks seriously can only results in delaying the process. Zelensky can’t stomp his feet, throw a tantrum and expect Putin to acquiesce to his demands.
Putin met his obligation to the peace process sending a Russian delegation to begin the discussions leading possibly to a ceasefire and peace talks. It doesn’t help the process when Zelensky hurls insults at Putin and demands that the EU and U.S. hit Putin with more economic sanctions. Someone with some rapport with Zelensky needs to have a heart-to-heart talk about his public behavior, asking him to reign in his overt hostility. Whatever losses Ukraine incurred in over three years of war, Zelensky opted for war with the Kremlin, not to negotiate a workable settlement. Trump told Zelensky in the Oval Office that he didn’t “have the cards” to dictate the peace process with Putin. Zelensky threw a fit and Trump had to ask him to leave the White House. Before Zelensky shoots himself in the foot, or worse yet, does more harm to Ukraine, he needs some coaching on diplomacy.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.
