The anticipated direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have shifted the focus of European efforts to impose new sanctions on Russia. European officials had been gaining confidence regarding U.S. sanctions, but Putin's offer for negotiations has altered the political landscape. European leaders are pushing for coordinated actions, particularly targeting Russia's financial and energy sectors, yet uncertainties about the actual meetings and the Kremlin's representation leave questions about their effectiveness. The ongoing developments underscore a complex interplay of diplomacy and strategies among involved nations.
Just as European officials were seeing a greater degree of skepticism by President Donald Trump's team toward Russia's intentions, President Vladimir Putin's offer of talks has changed the conversation.
While the talks are being seized on as a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the war, Russia has not said whom they are sending, leading to Ukrainian reluctance about attending.
Putin's call for talks, however, which Trump then backed, upended the threat as all sides scrambled to organize meetings in Istanbul.
The continent's leaders have still pushed for coordinated European and American sanctions, possibly targeting the financial and energy sectors, to pressure the Kremlin into halting the fighting.
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