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By Padmashree Anandhan and Fleur Elizabeth Philip
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 14 May, according to several Ukrainian media reports, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy will travel to Turkey with Head of the Office, Adrey Yermak, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga. Ukraine insist that the talks should begin with a 30-day truce, but Zelenskyy claims that he can direct talks and negotiate with Putin in Istanbul. He said that he would attend the peace talks if only Putin were present. Zelenskyy is expected to meet Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while waiting for Putin in Istanbul. Erdrogan insisted both the parties to sit and utilize the oppurtunity to reach a peace settlement.
On 14 May, Russian forces attacked Sumy, the northeastern region of Ukraine. According to the reports from the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, three are dead and nine are injured. The blast landed on an industrial site, with two people in critical condition. The Sumy Oblast is located near the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk Oblasts, bordering Russia. On the same day, Ukrinform reported on Russian military attack on Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, a village in Kharkiv Oblast. The investigation into the attack found use of FAB-250 bomb resulting in injury of a woman and damage to residential buildings.
On 14 May, after the UN ministerial meeting, UN Secretary General António Guterres stressed on ceasefire in war in Ukraine as primary ahead of a conflict resolution. He said that the ceasefire would serve as a base towards a just peace that abides UN Charter and Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He said: “A just peace for us means peace that respects the UN Charter, international law, and the resolutions of the UN General Assembly, including the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 14 May, the Kremlin confirmed the absence of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s in the peace talks with Ukraine. Replacing Putin, a Russian delegate, Vladimir Medinsky, will participate in the peace talks. Medinsky led the previous round of negotiations with Ukraine in 2022. Along with him will be Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and the Head of Russia’s military intelligence, Igor Kostyukov. Apart from the ministers, Putin is also sending a team of experts that will participate, which includes senior military officials and diplomats.
On 14 April, RT published an analysis on “Why the Russia-Ukraine peace talks are doomed before they begin.” According to the report, the meeting if took place would be a failure for two reasons. First being military, the Ukrainian military lies in a fragile state; they are holding the defence lines in Donbass, and in some other points, it is collapsing. Politically speaking, Kyiv acts as though it has an upper hand, with the support from the “Coalition of the Willing,” which includes the UK, France, and Germany. The strategy used by Zelenskyy is clear and predictable. It takes only Trump to ensure that Ukraine does not commit to any negotiated settlement, and Kyiv does not give an equal retaliation, or directly engage with Moscow. On the other hand, Russia has little to no reason to engage with the West. Russia has a strong hold on the front lines and continues to progress. Moscow’s strategy is to test Kyiv using exploratory contacts, but avoid committing itself to any formal ceasefire until the military has the upper hand.
The second reason for the failure is the failure of the past ceasefire proposals. Several peace talks have taken place, but there have not been any signs of a breakthrough. They have their ideas as to how the proposal should be designed, but it is all rhetoric, and there have been no changes so far. The report concludes by saying that separate talks with the US and Turkey officials, this will lead to one of three scenarios, continued talks, prolonged Ukraine’s peace process or no progress at all.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 14 May, Bloomberg and The Guardian reported on US President Donald Trump’s statement on him not travelling to Istanbul if Putin is not present. Instead US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senior Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Keith Kellogg, would represent to discuss peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Trump said that these talks could lead to some progress and possibly end the war in Ukraine.
On 14 May, during his first speech in Bundestag, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz assured that Germany and Europe would continue to aid Ukraine to deter Russia. He stressed that Germany would not be “a party to the war” but would continue to support Ukrainians. He reiterated the ongoing efforts of European leaders to achieve a 30-day ceasefire “without conditions.” Mer criticised Russia for the cyber attacks, destruction of data and submarine cables using shadow fleet and systemic disinformation on European countries. Merz assured: “The government will create all the necessary conditions for the Bundeswehr to become the strongest army in Europe.”
On 14 May, the EU imposed a new batch of sanctions on Russia, which include blacklisting of 200 oil tankers. The sanctions target individuals via cyber attacks and espionage. It warned on further sanctions if Russia disagrees ceasefire. The sanctions are also to be imposed on Russian individuals over cyberattacks, human rights abuses, and sabotage. This set of sanctions will be executed from 20 May. This batch of sanctions will be the EU’s 17th round sine war began. Additionally, the EU will also impose sanctions on Serbia, Vietnam, and Turkey for their support of Russia.
References:
“UN Chief: ceasefire must pave way to just peace,” Ukrinform, 14 May 2025
“Enemy launches air strike on Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, injuring civiliani,”Ukrinform, 14 May 2025
“Kremlin names delegation for Ukraine talks,” RT, 14 May 2025
Vitaly Ryumshin, “Why the Russia-Ukraine peace talks are doomed before they begin,” RT, 14 May 2025
“EU unveils Russia sanctions targeting 'shadow' oil fleet and cyberattackers,” France 24, 14 May 2025
Kateryna Hodunova, “3 killed, 9 injured in a Russian missile strike on city of Sumy,” The Kyiv Independent, 14 May 2025
Ryan Chua & Josh Wingrove, “Trump Says Rubio Heading to Istanbul for Ukraine-Russia Talks,” Bloomberg, 13 May 2025
Richard Connor, “Ukraine: Zelenskyy says he'll wait for Putin in Turkey,” Deutsche Welle, 13 May 2025
Pjotr Sauer, “Putin will not travel to Istanbul for peace talks with Zelenskyy, Kremlin confirms,” The Guardian, 14 May 2025
“Germany stands with Ukrainians as Merz delivers first chancellor speech to Bundestag,” Ukrinform, 14 May 2025
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