Ukraine said that only ‘strong US sanctions’ could break Russia’s peaceful discussion
London – With Ukraine-Russian peace talks in the US still floundering despite a round of negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his high officials gave more pressure to President Donald Trump to increase costs from what they saw as Russian services.
Trump returned to the office in January after swearing to end the war in 24 hours. But for months the failed talks – with Kyiv and Moscow are clearly still far apart from their peace demands – have left the president and his government openly frustrated.
Trump has threatened both-Ukraine with withdrawal of all assistance and Russia with more sanctions-with punishment if the effort to make peace fails. Both Ukraine and Russia have tried to frame the other as the main barrier to a peace agreement.
Ukraine in harmony with Trump can appeal for a ceasefire 30 days full, a proposal of President Vladimir Putin has refused. In weeks since then, Zelenskyy has pushed Trump to meet Russian hatred with sanctions.
Firefighters worked at the Russian drone strike site in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on June 4, 2025.
Vitaliii Hnidyi/Reuters
After the conversation on Monday – which lasted more than an hour – Kyiv began a new push.
I would like to thank all Americans, all Europeans who support this approach pressure Russia into peace-this is very important, “Zelenskyy wrote in a telegram on Tuesday night, following the last round of Russian drones that were deadly and missile attacks in his country-and after two headlines by Ukraine (SBU) in Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia.
“Putin did not change his behavior when he was not afraid of the consequences of his actions,” added Zelenskyy. “Russia must feel what the real war means. Russia must bear the loss of the war. They must really feel that continuing the war will have a destroying consequence for them.”
Both parties agreed to exchange further prisoners during the latest Istanbul talks. But both the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and Andriy Yermak – Head of the influence of President Zelenskyy’s office – pushed back the idea that negotiations move the needle towards the eternal ceasefire agreement.
Yermak said in a post to social media that he spoke with Trump Steve Witkoff’s special messenger about the conversation, telling him, “Russia’s position is still not constructive.”
“I emphasize that Russia is stuck and manipulating the negotiation process in an effort to avoid American sanctions and has no sincere intention to stop hostility,” Yermak said. “Only strong sanctions can force Russia to be involved in serious negotiations.
Sybiha said Russia “had not yet responded to our documents that described Ukraine’s vision to end the war,” in a post on X which summarized the official conclusion of Ukraine from the second round of discussion.
“Instead of responding to our constructive proposal in Istanbul, the Russian side through an old ultimatum set that does not move the situation closer to true peace,” he said.
“This is contrary to the previous Russian promises, including to the United States, that it will submit something realistic and can be done this week in Istanbul,” Sybiha added, also called for US sanctions against Moscow.
Ukraine soldiers prepare to fire the BM-21 multiple rocket launch system to Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 3, 2025.
Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Reuters
Trump also faces pressure at home. Senator of the Republic of Lindsey Graham – Long influenced in advising the President’s foreign policy – among those who encourage the Sanctions Bill through a senate that will slap 500% of the tariffs in any country that buy Moscow Energy Products.
On Sunday, after a visit to Kyiv with Democratic Senator Richard Blunthal, Graham wrote in X, “Russia indiscriminately kills men, women and children. It’s time for the world to act firmly against Russian aggression by asking for Chinese and other accountability for buying cheap Russian oil that supports the Putin war engine.”
Kremlin urges patience. “It is wrong to expect a decision or direct breakthrough here,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday about the latest talks. “But the work is ongoing. Certain agreements are achieved in Istanbul, and they are important. Indeed, first and especially, this is about people. This agreement will be implemented.”
But Dmitry Medvedev – Former President and Prime Minister of Russia now serves as Deputy Chairperson of the State Security Council – giving a darker reading about negotiations. The conversation, he wrote about telegrams, “Not intended to achieve compromise peace based on several imaginary and unrealistic conditions created by others, but rather to secure our quick victory and total destruction” Zelenskyy government.
Meanwhile, long distance strikes that have troubled Trump continue. The Ukraine Air Force reported that 95 Russian drones were launched to the country last night, where 61 was shot down or neutralized. The impact was recorded in seven locations, said the Air Force.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said his troops dropped seven Ukraine drones overnight.
ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman, Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Nataliia Popova and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
