Ukraine Seeks EU Sanctions as Russia Delays Prisoner Exchange

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced during a joint press conference with the Lithuanian Foreign Minister in Kyiv that Russia has yet to respond to Ukraine's peace proposal presented in Istanbul. This proposal was discussed during negotiations on June 2, where both sides agreed on the exchange of severely injured prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers. Russia initially planned to exchange prisoners between June 7 and 9, with an estimated 1,200 people to be exchanged, and agreed to transfer over 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. However, the exchange has been delayed due to mutual accusations, with Russia accusing Ukraine of halting the exchange at the last minute, and Ukraine claiming that Russia did not provide the list of prisoners to be exchanged in advance.

Sybiha emphasized that Russia has presented a series of ultimatums, making it necessary to increase pressure on Russia and its supporters. He expressed hope that the next round of EU sanctions would be both powerful and destructive, targeting Russia's energy sector, shadow fleet, banking system, and sanctions evasion behaviors. Sybiha also urged the G7 nations to lower the price cap on Russian oil to 30 dollars per barrel. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Kestutis Budrys, echoed this sentiment, stating that Ukraine's allies have the space to increase sanctions against Russia and that future actions must be coordinated with the United States.

The negotiations in Istanbul were brief, lasting less than an hour, and ended without significant progress. Turkey's proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor in Donetsk and Luhansk was ignored by both sides. The negotiations were marked by deep strategic differences, with Russia presenting a 12-point peace memorandum that directly affected Ukraine's core interests. These included demands for Ukraine to recognize Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson as Russian territories, and to withdraw from these regions. Russia also demanded that Ukraine remain neutral, not join any military alliances, and limit its military capabilities. Additionally, Russia called for the lifting of all economic sanctions against it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded angrily to Russia's demands, calling them "naked aggression" and stating that Ukraine would not sign such a "surrender document." He reiterated Ukraine's demands for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied territories, and compensation for damages. In retaliation, Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russian strategic aircraft, destroying over 40 planes and weakening Russia's strategic air force by 34%. Zelenskyy also announced a military reform plan to accelerate the production of drones and long-range weapons, and to form a new special forces unit by the end of the year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to meet with Zelenskyy, stating that he believed the Ukrainian leadership did not want peace. Putin accused Ukraine of orchestrating deadly bombings in Russia, resulting in 7 deaths and 115 injuries. The Russian Prosecutor General also blamed Ukraine for several bombings in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. In response to Zelenskyy's call for an immediate ceasefire and a meeting at a location chosen by Russia, Putin stated that he would not shake hands with "terrorists" and accused the Zelenskyy government of crossing moral boundaries.

The future of the conflict remains uncertain. The exchange of 1,200 prisoners and the resolution of the negotiation stalemate are key points of interest for the international community. This conflict has caused immense suffering for the people of both countries and has had a profound impact on the global political and economic landscape. The international community hopes that both sides will engage in peaceful negotiations to end the conflict and restore peace and stability to the region.