Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Russia’s delegation to the recent peace talks in Turkey as merely “decorative,” accusing Moscow of lacking genuine interest in ending the war. Zelensky reiterated his call for a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, underscoring the need for serious dialogue to reach a ceasefire.
Despite the talks, analysts believe Russia is employing its long-standing strategy of delay and distraction. Speaking to DW, Knut Abraham, a member of Germany’s conservative CDU party and the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said, “You clearly see the intent by the Russian president is not to proceed, but just play on the chess field.”
Abraham, who also has a background in diplomacy, described Moscow’s approach as a familiar tactic: “It’s an old Russian trick—initiate contact, start negotiations, and then prolong the process while pretending to be open to dialogue, without actually making any real progress.”
He urged stronger sanctions from the European Union, stating that the West must send a clear signal to Moscow. “There should be no misunderstanding in Moscow that we really mean it seriously,” Abraham stressed.
Military and security expert Gustav Gressel echoed these concerns, telling DW that Putin’s absence from the talks was anticipated and likely calculated. “The Russians are pretty confident that they will win the war,” Gressel said. “They’re playing with time.”
Gressel also criticized the impact of Western sanctions, arguing that they have so far failed to exert meaningful pressure on the Kremlin. Referring to the latest sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to bypass oil export restrictions, he said, “It’s a symbolic act. There is no significant amount of pressure coming from the West.”
Both experts concluded that without a firmer response from Western nations, Russia will continue its delaying tactics under the guise of diplomacy.
