Why the Istanbul negotiations at the beginning of the war failed: Zelenskyy explained

The talks held in Istanbul in March 2022 were unsuccessful because the Russian dictator Putin can only communicate in the language of ultimatums.

This statement was made by President Zelenskyy during a press conference following the Peace Summit in Switzerland.

"No ultimatums constitute negotiations. Putin arrived with these ultimatums on a tank during the invasion, surrounded our capital, occupied many regions of the country, and presented an ultimatum. I've already spoken about all the atrocities," the Head of State said.

According to the President, these ultimatums are no different from Putin's latest "proposals." Zelenskyy believes that ultimatums allow Russia to take pauses on the front lines.

"The Minsk agreements were an ultimatum, and the conflict was frozen. He needed that pause to prepare for a full-scale invasion. Therefore, any ultimatums for Putin are a need for a pause. A pause to prepare his troops, to train them. Because he has already lost his trained army," Zelenskyy concluded.

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