ISTANBUL
France hopes for an “immediate” and “unconditional” ceasefire through Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Türkiye, the French foreign minister said.
“(The) best we can hope for in these technical discussions is indeed a ceasefire, an immediate, unconditional ceasefire that would allow for proper peace negotiation,” Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday, speaking before the start of day two of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Antalya, Türkiye.
On reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to attend Istanbul peace talks, Barrot said there was an “empty chair” in front of Ukraine “waiting for” Putin.
“Russia is willing to avoid the massive sanctions on oil, the financial sector that the US and that Europeans are preparing in the instance where Russia would keep refusing the ceasefire,” he stressed.
Barrot further warned that the upcoming talks should avoid “three traps” that led previous discussions to fail: continuing talks amid active hostilities, forcing Ukraine to demilitarize without security guarantees, and lifting sanctions at the very beginning of negotiations.
“We come with one single message to stand by Ukraine and to ensure that we get a just and lasting, enduring peace,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also spoke before the meeting.
He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demonstrated his “readiness” for peace by coming to Türkiye.
“It’s hugely important that we recommit to Europe’s defenses and that we step up alongside our US partners in this challenging geopolitical moment where there are so many pressures across the world,” Lammy added.
Netherlands’ Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp also said it was “pretty clear” that Ukraine was willing to go to Istanbul for peace talks, while Russia was not.
“For me, that makes (it) very clear where we need to put pressure to move towards peace,” he said.
Veldkamp further urged Europe to increase defense spending to strengthen their deterrence.
“I guess the entire world has realized that there’s only one party not willing to engage in serious peace negotiations, and that certainly is Russia,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen further said.
She also noted that Türkiye “graciously” offered the location for peace negotiations, expressing her “expectation” toward an “immediate” ceasefire.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his willingness to remain “optimistic” regarding the outcome of the peace talks in Istanbul.
He stressed that he does not know whether Russia wants to achieve peace or not, urging for “more Russian engagement” for a possible solution.
When asked about the cooperation between Italy and Türkiye, Tajani noted that the relations between the two countries remain positive, expressing Italy’s “readiness” to do more with Türkiye in various sectors, including defense.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also underscored that a possible ceasefire should leave Ukraine as a “free, sovereign, and independent” country.
“If he (Putin) is not ready to deliver, there will be more pressure, more sanctions, and more consequences,” Eide said, underlining that the matter is not only about Ukraine but also a “major transatlantic issue.”
He also noted that Europe should do more and increase its defense spending.
“As we see, Putin’s strategy doesn’t change. He looks for distraction … and also the delay of any proper process for the peace,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said, voicing support for the position of Ukraine, the US, and Europe for a possible ceasefire.