Ukraine should consider how to exit talks with Russia – diplomat

Diplomat and former Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. and France, Oleh Shamshur,  stated this on Espreso TV.

"It was expected that this round, like the first, ended with nothing. Yes, important topics were raised – the exchange of prisoners, the return of the bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers. But all of this can be handled without taking part in direct public talks with Russia," Shamshur said.

According to the diplomat, it was no surprise that Russia didn’t take even a single step toward the key issue – a ceasefire. The Kremlin continues to use the talks to create a smokescreen: pretending to seek agreements, while actually pushing forward its own military, political, and propaganda goals.

"The Russians are deliberately making proposals that are completely unacceptable for Ukraine. So further talks are pointless. The humanitarian issues that were mentioned can be handled without public negotiations.

We should now be thinking about how to leave these talks in a way that doesn’t damage our relations with European partners, especially the U.S. Because there’s no sense in staying in Russia’s diplomatic game and giving Putin another chance to win in round two," Shamshur emphasized.

• On Monday, June 2, the second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Diplomat Volodymyr Puzyrko believes Russia is refusing a 30-day ceasefire because Putin is cornered, and stopping the war is simply not in his interest.