Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend that was hard to solve? Sometimes, even talking about it can be tough! Right now, Russia and Ukraine are in a big conflict, and they are finding it really hard to sit down and talk things over. 🤔
Recently, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin suggested that he and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should have a direct meeting in Istanbul on May 15. That sounds like a good idea, right? 🤝 Talking can help solve problems. But there’s a catch!
Ukraine says they want Russia to stop fighting first before they have any talks. They want an “unconditional ceasefire,” which means both sides stop fighting without any conditions. On the other hand, Russia wants to talk first and then decide on the ceasefire.
It’s like when two kids are fighting over a toy. One says, “Let’s talk after you give me the toy,” and the other says, “No, let’s talk first, and then I’ll give you the toy.” See how tricky that can be?
Mr. Sun Zhuangzhi, an expert who studies Eastern Europe, says that this disagreement makes it really hard for Russia and Ukraine to start talking. He thinks both sides have different goals. Russia wants to make sure that Ukraine won’t join groups like NATO, a big alliance of countries. Ukraine, however, wants to protect its land and maybe join NATO someday.
Because they want different things, it’s hard for them to trust each other. Without trust, it’s tough to agree on anything, even talking! 😕
Even though it’s difficult, many people hope that Russia and Ukraine can find a way to start talking. After all, talking is the first step to solving any problem. Let’s hope they can work it out soon! 🌟
Reference(s):
Expert: Russia and Ukraine locked in deep rift over core demands
cgtn.com
