Kyiv (Eurotoday) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for intensified sanctions against Russia on Saturday after a deadly drone strike killed nine passengers aboard a bus in northeastern Ukraine. The attack came just hours after the first peace talks between Russia and Ukraine since the outbreak of war in February 2022.
On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations convened in Istanbul, Turkey, for direct talks. However, the discussions failed to produce a temporary ceasefire or significant progress, marking an underwhelming outcome in the long-awaited negotiations.
Addressing the drone strike in the Sumy region, Zelenskiy took to social media platform X to condemn the assault. “All the deceased were civilians. And the Russians could not have failed to understand what kind of vehicle they were targeting. This was a deliberate killing of civilians,” he wrote. Ukrainian authorities released images of the targeted vehicle, a dark blue passenger van heavily damaged with a ripped-off roof and shattered windows.
What Sanctions Is Zelenskiy Urging Against Moscow?
Zelenskiy emphasized the need for immediate international action to stop the violence. “Pressure must be exerted on Russia to stop the killings. Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy,” he said.
He also criticized the Russian delegation sent to Istanbul, describing it as “weak and unprepared” and accusing Moscow of lacking genuine commitment to end the war.
“We are expecting strong sanctions against Russia from the United States, from Europe, and from all our partners. Diplomacy must start working,” Zelenskiy asserted.
Before the Istanbul meeting, former U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that “nothing could happen” without that step.
What Did the French President Say Regarding Talks?
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the sentiment of disappointment in the Istanbul talks. Speaking alongside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at a press conference, Macron dismissed the outcomes of the meeting.
“Today, what do we have? Nothing. And so I tell you, faced with President Putin’s cynicism, I am sure that President Trump, mindful of the credibility of the United States, will react,” Macron stated.
What Outcomes Does the Kremlin Expect Before Leaders Meet?
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the possibility of a meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelenskiy. According to Peskov, such a summit could only occur after substantial progress is made in bilateral talks.
“Only after achieving certain results in the form of agreements,” Peskov said, would a high-level meeting be considered. He added, “At the same time, when signing documents that the delegations are to agree upon, the main and fundamental thing for us remains who exactly will sign these documents from the Ukrainian side.”
Peskov did not elaborate further, but it is not the first time Russian officials have questioned Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his elected term.
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