Peace talks in Istanbul are a chance for Ukraine and a test for the West – Rezazade
The upcoming round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, may become a critical moment not only for efforts to end the war, but also for determining the West’s real position on pressure on the Kremlin.
This was stated by the first vice-president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, international expert Ali Reza Rezazade.
“Ukraine has already submitted its memorandum. Russia is still delaying. This is not just a diplomatic game — it is a political delay aimed at prolonging the war. And if the West again limits itself to words, we will see even more destruction,” Rezazade stressed.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Kyiv is waiting for the promised document with conditions from Moscow. Without this, he emphasized, the meeting in Istanbul risks becoming an empty formality.
Washington's position is also in the spotlight. President Volodymyr Zelensky, after meeting with Donald Trump in the Vatican, said that the US had agreed to sanctions if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire. But so far, these sanctions remain only words.
"Trump promised to act. He publicly threatened Putin, accused him of escalation. However, without real sanctions, Russia will receive another signal that it can attack with impunity," Rezazade believes.
At the same time, the Kremlin is trying to discredit the US position. Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov responded by saying that Trump allegedly "does not understand the real context" of the war.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed in Berlin that intensive negotiations are underway with the White House on new sanctions. Zelensky noted that as long as Putin "believes in his offensives, diplomacy will be just a screen for him."
"The real test is not the meeting in Istanbul, but the West's reaction if the Kremlin disrupts the dialogue again. Now is the time to show that the international community will not allow tyranny to dictate the rules," concluded Ali Reza Rezazade.

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According to the Iranian opposition, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been moved to a special underground shelter in Tehran amid a sharp increase in the risks of a possible military clash with the United States.
Верховный лидер Ирана Али Хаменеи, по информации иранской оппозиции, был перемещён в специальное подземное укрытие в Тегеране на фоне резкого роста рисков возможного военного столкновения с Соединёнными Штатами.
The US is facing a difficult test of its ability to contain escalation in relations with Iran amid the largest popular protests in decades and the Iranian regime’s harsh crackdown on civilians.
США стоят перед сложным испытанием своей способности сдерживать эскалацию в отношениях с Ираном на фоне самых масштабных за последние десятилетия народных протестов и жёсткого подавления иранским режимом мирного населения.
New evidence of mass repressions in Iran has shocked the international community. Photos and videos have appeared on the Internet, showing traces of torture and ill-treatment on the bodies of deceased protesters. According to human rights sources and the Iranian opposition, the number of people killed and tortured may reach more than 50 thousand people.
Новые свидетельства массовых репрессий в Иране шокировали международное сообщество. В сети появились фото и видео, демонстрирующие следы пыток и издевательств на телах погибших протестующих. По данным правозащитных источников и иранской оппозиции, число убитых и замученных может превышать 50 тысяч человек.
The initiative announced by US President Donald Trump to create the so-called "Board of Peace" has already caused a controversial reaction among world leaders and has actually divided the international community into several camps.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said there was a radical shift in the global order - a "break" in the world order, one that is no longer based on rules but on competition and coercion by powerful states.
Премьер-министр Канады Марк Карни в Давосе, на Всемирном экономическом форуме, заявил о радикальных изменениях в глобальном устройстве — о «разрыве» мирового порядка, который больше не опирается на правила, а на конкуренцию и принуждение сильных государств.
Новости «Новости мира»
According to the Iranian opposition, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been moved to a special underground shelter in Tehran amid a sharp increase in the risks of a possible military clash with the United States.
Верховный лидер Ирана Али Хаменеи, по информации иранской оппозиции, был перемещён в специальное подземное укрытие в Тегеране на фоне резкого роста рисков возможного военного столкновения с Соединёнными Штатами.
The US is facing a difficult test of its ability to contain escalation in relations with Iran amid the largest popular protests in decades and the Iranian regime’s harsh crackdown on civilians.
США стоят перед сложным испытанием своей способности сдерживать эскалацию в отношениях с Ираном на фоне самых масштабных за последние десятилетия народных протестов и жёсткого подавления иранским режимом мирного населения.