Ukraine struggle briefing: Europe in a position with sanctions if no ceasefire after Istanbul talks

European leaders have indicated they’ll press forward with additional sanctions in opposition to Russia – whether or not or now not the United States does likewise – if talks in Turkey on Thursday don’t produce a ceasefire. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, stated Europe would impose new sanctions if Moscow didn’t agree to the 30-day ceasefire. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, warned Russia on Tuesday that it might face recent European sanctions if there was once no “real progress” this week in opposition to peace in Ukraine, as he recommended Putin to satisfy Zelenskyy. The European Union has already imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia since Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

It remained unclear on Tuesday night whether or not Vladimir Putin would settle for Voldoymyr Zelenskyy’s problem for the 2 presidents to satisfy in individual. Zelenskyy is travelling to Ankara, the Turkish capital, to satisfy with its president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and has stated he’s going to cross to Istanbul if Putin displays up, writes Shaun Walker. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war.”

The EU’s most sensible diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated in Copenhagen on Tuesday: “I think it’s a good move if they sit down … But I don’t think he dares, Putin.” If Putin does now not attend, and Zelenskyy does now not both, talks are nonetheless anticipated to be held at a decrease stage between Ukrainian and Russian delegations.

Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that if Putin displays up, “President Trump will be there”. The US president is visiting the Middle East. Kellogg, in addition to the United States secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and Trump’s belongings broker good friend Steve Witkoff also are reportedly anticipated in Turkey.

The Ukrainian international minister, Andrii Sybiha, referred to as on Brazil to assist convince Putin to visit Istanbul. The leaders of China and Brazil, contributors with Russia of the Brics grouping, stated in a joint observation they was hoping direct discussion may start once conceivable.

Macron stated that Ukraine recognizes it can’t retake all of the territory seized via Russia since 2014 and warned that the west didn’t desire a “third world war”. “The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations,” Macron stated. “Even the Ukrainians have the clear-sightedness to say they do not have the capacity to retake everything that has been taken since 2014.”

Russian guided bombs hit the north-eastern Ukrainian area of Kharkiv on Tuesday, killing a minimum of 3 other people, a neighborhood respectable stated.

The Cannes movie pageant has begun via screening 3 2025 Ukraine documentaries: Zelensky; Bernard-Henri Lévy’s Notre Guerre; and The Associated Press-Frontline coproduction 2000 Meters to Andriivka, via Mstyslav Chernov who received an Oscar for 20 Days in Mariupol. “This ‘Ukraine Day’ is a reminder of the commitment of artists, authors and journalists to tell the story of this conflict in the heart of Europe,” the pageant stated in a observation.