« Kyiv does not want peace » – Diepresse.com

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin openly questioned the meaning of peace talks with Ukraine on Wednesday. The Ukrainian attacks on two bridges in Russia were clearly directed against the civilian population, and proof that the government in Kiev « dismisses a terrorist organization and its sponsors become accomplices from terrorists ». Apparently « the current regime in Kiev does not need any peace at all, » said Putin.

« Of course, all crimes that were committed on the eve of another round of peace in Istanbul against civilians, including women and children, were of course aimed at thwarting the negotiation process, » said Putin on Wednesday. « The attack was a targeted blow to the civilian population, » said Putin. It is « of course terrorist acts ». In one of the attacks on bridges, a train was derailed at the weekend, seven people were killed.

Attacks shortly before peace talks in Turkey

Russian investigators said that the Ukraine blown up a motorway bridge over a railway line on Saturday, just when a passenger train with 388 people on board. Ukraine did not officially comment on the incidents. The attacks occurred shortly before the peace talks in Turkey on Monday.

« What should you talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror? » Said Putin. Every ceasefire would only be used to supply Ukraine with western weapons. Ukraine did not comment on the bridge attacks, but referred to the fact that Russia had fired a record number of drones on Ukraine on Monday night. Several people died. The Russian President did not mention the daily Russian drone and rocket attacks on Ukraine attacked in 2022 at the meetings with high-ranking officials in Russian television.

However, the Vice Chair of the Russian Security Council, Dmitri Medledew, had almost excluded concessions to Ukraine one day after the direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. « The Istanbul talks are not about closing a compromise peace on the insane conditions of another, but about ensuring our quick victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime, » wrote the confidant of President Putin in the short message service Telegram.

Lavrov: « Gross mistakes of the regime in Kyiv »

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrow meanwhile said that Ukraine had rejected a Russian proposal for a two to three-day, sometimes ceasefire to rescue corpses. « I think this is just a gross mistake in Kiev, » said Lawrow to Putin during a briefing on TV during television on the results of the talks on Monday in Istanbul.

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, in turn, stated Putin’s statements that Ukraine does not want peace. « My proposal, which our partners can support in my opinion, is to offer the Russians a ceasefire until the meeting of the heads of state and government, » said Selenskyj.

Wade phulic for « more pressure on Russia »

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul called for more pressure on Russia. The government in Moscow is not interested in a peace solution, said WadePhul after meeting the Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Berlin. Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin relies on « grueling » that the result of the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations in Istanbul was « sobering », said Wade Phul. « A willingness to the dialogue looks different. » The next, 18th sanction package of the EU against Moscow must therefore come « as quickly as possible ».

According to both information on their joint support for Ukraine, WadePhul and Sikorski spoke and future defense cooperation. WadePhul said it was talked about the « expansion of European air defense ». He named further topics as the European armaments cooperation that should be advanced, as well as the expansion of the infrastructure necessary for defense.

Sikorski: Germany and Poland have an important role in the NATO-East flank

Sikorski said that Germany and Poland had an important role in the NATO-East flank that the cooperation was also a « test » for relationships. Both sides are of an opinion that Russia has not changed its point of view and apply a « delay tactic », when it comes to efforts to take a ceasefire. The support for Ukraine is therefore still important, also in dialogue with the USA. He also spoke out for further sanctions.

The topic will also be part of the talks of the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) with US President Donald Trump. Merz is visiting Washington on Thursday. WadePhul said Merz Reise not only to visit the United States. He has also been the first European head of government at Trump since the recent start of direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow. Merz can bring a « back strengthening » here « that Europe is clearly at the side of Ukraine ». With the United States together, Russia should now be brought to the negotiating table. « This chance of peace must not remain unused. » Such a great European unity had not existed for a long time. The Chancellor thus drive strengthened to Washington.

With a view to the legal nationalist Karol Nawrocki, who had been elected as the new president in Poland on Sunday, WadePhul and Sikorski did not assume that this would disrupt German-Polish cooperation. WadePhul pointed out that the « cooperation was narrow and firm ». Sikorski emphasized that the president was not the head of government in Poland, and the government determines the line in foreign policy.

The prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kyiv is imminent

According to both sides, Russia and Ukraine could start an agreed great exchange of prisoners at the weekend. In Moscow, the Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinski called President Putin Data 7th to 9th June, as the state news agency TASS reported. In Kyiv, President Selenskyj generally spoke from the coming weekend. The first step is about the return of 500 prisoners each.

In direct talks in Istanbul on Monday, both sides had agreed to exchange seriously injured or sick prisoners of war between the ages of 18 and 25. This could affect more than 1,000 people from each side. In addition, thousands of corpses of killed soldiers are to be returned. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. (APA/Reuters)