A real breakthrough is possible either with a softening of the sides' positions or serious changes on the battlefield, says the executive director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
BEIJING, June 3. /TASS correspondent Ivan Kargapoltsev/. During the next round of talks in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine demonstrated a desire to seek a political solution to the problem, but the conditions for this have not yet matured, and a real breakthrough is possible either with a softening of the sides' positions or serious changes on the battlefield. This opinion was expressed to TASS by Sun Qi, executive director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
"In general, the second round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine again failed to resolve key contradictions. The peace process in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has faced new obstacles after Ukraine's attack on air bases in Russia. However, the fact that the parties nevertheless sat down at the negotiating table after the strike on the 1st, rather than canceling them altogether, makes these negotiations especially significant. Compared to the first direct contacts, significant progress has been made - details of the ceasefire proposals have been transmitted, which, in my opinion, indicates the desire of both countries to seek a political solution, although the conditions for it have not yet matured," the expert believes.
Among the key disagreements between the parties, he named the territorial issue, the difference in strategic goals, the interference of external forces and the lack of trust. According to the expert, the key issues of the second round of negotiations differ little from those of the first, and the parties still seriously disagree on the sequence and conditions of the ceasefire.
Russia, stated Sun Qi, demonstrates a desire to discuss the content of the peace agreement, determine the principles of settlement, a timetable for the implementation of agreements and temporary measures for a ceasefire. "Moscow is striving to show its readiness for a peaceful solution, but at the same time consolidate its military achievements in a contractual form and avoid further pressure from the West," he said.
Ukraine, as the expert pointed out, is ready to continue negotiations, but as a condition of a cease-fire, it speaks of sovereignty, territorial integrity and demands the withdrawal of Russian troops. In general, Sun Qi believes that Kiev is more interested in an early settlement than Moscow in the current circumstances.
The fundamental contradictions have not disappeared
"In general, the second meeting has strengthened communication channels to some extent, but the fundamental contradictions - territorial issues, security architecture, as well as Western intervention - leave little hope for peace soon. The international community is cautiously optimistic, but a real breakthrough will require either a softening of the sides' positions or serious changes on the battlefield," the expert believes.
Earlier, the second round of resumed direct talks between Russia and Ukraine was held in Istanbul. The meeting lasted just over an hour, and the delegations communicated in Russian. The parties exchanged documents with their views on various aspects of conflict resolution.
