**US Envoy Says Istanbul Talks Can’t Be Basis for Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal**
The US President’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said on March 6 that the Istanbul talks can’t be the basis for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. He made this comment at a discussion with the Council on Foreign Relations.
Kellogg explained that the Istanbul accords happened 30 days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The agreements were significant, but they put too many demands on Ukraine, which was already weakened by the war. He said these agreements could be used as a starting point for future talks, but not as a fair framework for all parties.
**What Were the Istanbul Agreements?**
The Istanbul agreements refer to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia that took place in Turkey in late March 2022. The potential terms of the peace deal included Ukraine adopting a neutral status, giving up its NATO aspirations, imposing military restrictions, and delaying talks over Russian-occupied Crimea’s status for 10-15 years.
**US Aims to Reset Relations with Russia**
Kellogg emphasized that conditions today are very different from those in 2022. He also noted that the Trump administration aims to reset US-Russia relations, criticizing previous leadership for avoiding direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
**Recent Talks and Meetings**
The US has recently held talks with Russia in Istanbul on February 27 and Riyadh on February 18 as part of its efforts to push for a swift peace settlement. Trump expressed interest in meeting Putin, which is a departure from his predecessor Joe Biden‘s approach.
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