Putin's negotiation turnaround raises stakes in Istanbul talks
The political bloc of Vladimir Putin's administration has recommended that its subordinate media prepare audiences for the potential failure of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul, reports "Meduza," citing guidelines given to media heads.
The document obtained by Mediazona mentions, among other things, a "new sanctions package" that Donald Trump's administration threatened to impose on the Kremlin if it sabotaged the peace process. Propaganda media have been advised to convey that the new sanctions "will not harm the country's development," and the budget has already been "constructed with them in mind."
Loyal media, following the instructions, are to assure audiences that Russia "is successfully coping with any sanctions", including – as the document emphasizes – in the energy sector, which is "developing steadily."
Putin initiates talks, then backs out
The media is explaining Putin's refusal to attend negotiations, which he initiated as a sign of his firmness. Instead, Putin sent his advisor, Vladimir Medinsky, to Istanbul. According to the guidelines, this decision was influenced by "neither anything Donald Trump said nor anything Zelensky declared."
The first direct negotiations between representatives from Moscow and Kyiv since 2022 were nearly called off after Zelensky proposed a personal meeting with Putin. However, Putin decided against traveling to Istanbul and sent a four-member delegation, partially reflecting the talks with Ukrainians from three years ago.
Besides Medinsky, the delegation included Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and head of Russian military intelligence Igor Kostyukov. Zelensky, who was in Turkey for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, called the delegation's composition "decorative" and stated there was "no point" in going to Istanbul.
Moscow wants to resume 2022 talks
The talks, originally scheduled for Thursday, May 15, were moved to Friday. According to the latest information, they will begin at 3 AM Eastern Time.
In a statement to the media, Medinsky said that Russia views these negotiations as a continuation of the process in Istanbul in the spring of 2022, a few weeks after the war began. At that time, Moscow demanded that Kyiv abandon plans to join NATO, recognize the Russian status of Crimea and Donbas, and drastically reduce the size of its armed forces.
