Ukraine and Russia trade drone attacks after "peace talks"
發佈日期: 2025-05-17 21:40
TVB News
In the war between Russia and Ukraine, a Russian drone struck a bus killing nine in Ukraine's Sumy region. Ukraine hit an ammunition depot in Russia-occupied Crimea.
The continued fighting follows direct negotiations in Istanbul, the first between Ukraine and Russia since 2022.
But those peace talks failed to bring about their objective with neither President - Putin or Zelenskyy - in attendance.
Inside the talks that have not amounted to peace. Hours later, both Ukraine and Russia were said to have been attacking each other.
The head of Russia's delegations Vladimir Medinsky confirming a prisoner swap - which happened before - saying a possible ceasefire needs to be fleshed out with more detail. A request for the two heads of state to meet will be taken under advisement,he says.
Russian President Vladimir Putin not in Istanbul, and Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying it was pointless to talk with anyone else.
Ukraine's Minister of Defence said: "Our President was expecting the high level discussions in here. And I think the next step would be that the leaders level meeting should be organised and that would be our next step. So, at this stage, we once again would like to reiterate Ukraine wants peace. Ukraine is focused to people and we're able and capable to continue fight."
First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs said: "There are many issues that can be resolved if only the leaders (Presidents) can meet, because given complexity of the issues and given the nature of the Russian Federation, where practically every single issue that is at stake can only be resolved by President Putin, we are looking forward to having the summit sooner than later."
Zelenskyy, realising Putin wasn't coming, instead attended a European Political Community meeting with plenty of support for him in Albania.
Ukraine's President with several of the continent's leaders including Denmark, Sweden and Moldova. He sat along-side his staunchest allies inside the summit.
France, Germany, Poland and the UK demanded Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire last weekend, threatening to tighten sanctions if talks don't move forward.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Putin must come to the table for that unconditional ceasefire, and to issue, as we did last weekend, that ultimatum. Now, having issued that ultimatum, we must be prepared to follow through."
Meanwhile, Putin was at a table, chairing a national security meeting. The virtual briefing is held most weeks. Putin passing up the opportunity to go to talks in Turkey. The Kremlin say talks between Putin and Zelenskyy could be possible under certain agreements.
It was Putin who first instigated the "unconditional and direct talks" in Turkey a week ago although he never said he would personally attend.
