The promise for Immediate conversations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul It has derailed European efforts to take the United States on their side to impose new sanctions on Russia if there is no immediate ceasefire.

As European officials saw a greater degree of skepticism from Donald Trump’s team against Russia’s intentions and worked with US officials for sanctions, Vladimir Putin’s talks have changed the debate.

The meeting expected on Thursday in Istanbul questioned sanctions plans, according to nine Europeans, Ukrainians and US diplomats and officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

While talks are perceived as possible significant progress in efforts to end war, Russia has not said who is sending, resulting in Ukraine to appear remnant to participate. And since the envoys of USA They reinforced the conversations by saying that they would come, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were no plans to meet, further blurring the waters of what would really happen on Thursday.

When the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Poland traveled to Kiev last weekend to push for a ceasefire, they had telephone contact with him Donald Trump And he expressed the willingness to exert pressure – including possible sanctions – in Russia, two diplomats said.

Putin’s call for conversations, however, which Trump then supported, overturned the threat as all sides were trying to organize meetings in Constantinople.

Epirus leaders are still pushing for coordinated European and US sanctions, which are probably targeting the financial and energy sector to push the Kremlin to stop battles. However, their uncertainty about whether Washington will follow, has grown, with their European officials describe Putin’s appeal for the meeting as regular stagnation.

Discussions at the two -day meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers, which began in Antalya, were dominated by the latest developments regarding possible talks.

On the US side, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, who is in Antalya in a meeting with his NATO counterparts, and special envoys Steve Whitkov and Keith Kloge They are expected to go to Constantinople on Friday.

Russia, however, did not say that it would meet with them and remained trapped in who he would send – whether Putin is, senior officials or a group of bureaucrats – causing a growing irritation from Ukraine, who sent his foreign minister to the rally.

THE Zelenski He is still pushing for a meeting with Putin himself in Turkey. ‘Why personally with him [τον Πούτιν]; Because a serious debate on ending the murder and ending the war should be done with the one who eventually makes decisions in Russia, “said one Ukrainian official. “Everything will depend on whether Putin is afraid to come to Turkey or not. Based on his answer, the Ukrainian leadership will decide on the next steps. “

To Air Force OneTrump, who is on a trip to the Middle East, told reporters on Wednesday that he did not know if Putin would appear for talks in Turkey. “I know he would like to be there. And that’s a chance … I don’t know it would be there if I’m not there. We will find out, “he said.

With Trump approve of a Russian-Ukraine meeting, European leaders are now waiting to see if there will be something from Thursday’s talks.

OR European Union He agreed on Wednesday for the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, with the aim of mainly the so -called shadow fleet used to bypass the embargo on Russian oil. Discussions with Washington were about wider European and US sanctions to send a warning to the Kremlin.

“There was a time when the talks looked like a lost case, but now it seems that there could be some impetus,” both for the negotiations and the US’s willingness to push Russia, a European diplomat said.

THE Emmanuel Macron He said that EU officials They were in talks with Trump government officials and US senators for sanctions, examining financial services and oil and gas as possible targets.

The new US ambassador to NATO, Matthew G. Whitker, said that “everything is on the table” in trying to negotiate the end of the war. “We must finally judge President Putin’s commitment to a long -term ceasefire by his actions, not his words,” he said.

Asked if Washington will impose new sanctions as long as Russia is still rejecting a immediate ceasefire of 30 days, he said: “We just have to do this step by step.”

“I think President Trump has said he is frustrated with Russia. He had been disappointed in the past by Ukraine, “Whitaker added.