Istanbul
CNN
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After five days of confusion over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for direct talks with Ukraine, the day they were supposed to begin initially brought only more of the same: a seven-hour stakeout on the banks of the Bosphorus, an unruly scrum at the Russian consulate, and finally a decision from Ukraine’s president that may open a new chapter in this intractable conflict.
The chaotic scenes that unfolded in Istanbul on Thursday set the tone for a difficult road ahead. As the world’s media descended in the morning on the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Ukraine still hadn’t confirmed it would take part or given any signals as to the makeup of its delegation,…
