Are Russia and Ukraine preparing to hold direct talks?
Delegations from both countries will meet in Türkiye to discuss security issues in the Black Sea, according to CNN Turk.
According to information published on April 13th, citing sources within the Turkish Ministry of Defense, representatives from Russia and Ukraine will hold direct talks in Ankara this week, specifically on April 15th and 16th, at the Turkish Navy headquarters. The delegations from both countries will meet to discuss security issues in the Black Sea.
However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga denied this information and told TCH television that "no negotiations are planned."
Earlier, during exchanges between Russian and American experts in Riyadh at the end of March, the two sides agreed to move toward reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative. According to the Kremlin, this includes lifting Western sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions involved in the export of Russian food and fertilizers. Both Moscow and Washington view a maritime ceasefire as a stepping stone to a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The Black Sea Grains Initiative, initially brokered by the United Nations and later Turkey in July 2022, aimed to secure a safe corridor for Ukrainian agricultural products in exchange for the US and EU lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports. However, Moscow withdrew from the agreement a year later, accusing the West of failing to fulfill its commitments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Kyiv rejected a maritime ceasefire because it believed it would “undermine the position and sanctions” against Russia.
Last month, US President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration was considering lifting some sanctions against Moscow to restart the Black Sea Grains Initiative, stating: “There are about five or six conditions. We’re looking at all of them.”
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen rejected easing sanctions against Moscow, insisting they should remain in place until a “just and lasting peace” is achieved in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the maritime ceasefire could only take effect if conditions set by Russia were met. “Of course, this time justice must prevail, and we will continue to cooperate with the US side within the framework of the Black Sea Initiative,” Peskov emphasized.
