Russia-Ukraine talks stall over unrealistic demands
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, stated on Friday that he is satisfied with the outcome of the talks with the Ukrainian side in Istanbul. However, Kyiv feels quite differently. Ukrainian sources report that the demands presented by the Russians are "unrealistic" and go beyond anything discussed so far.
What do you need to know?
- The negotiations in Istanbul ended in under two hours, with the Russians expressing satisfaction with their outcome.
- Ukrainian sources deemed the Russian demands unrealistic, complicating further talks.
- A prisoner exchange was discussed, with a proposed 1,000-for-1,000 exchange expected to occur in the coming days.
The talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul ended on Friday in under two hours, as reported by Reuters, citing sources. The agency assessed that there are no signs of progress toward a possible convergence of the parties' positions.
Both Kyiv and Moscow representatives spoke after the talks concluded.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that during Friday's talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations discussed the possibility of conducting a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals from each side.
The parties also discussed a ceasefire and preparations for a potential meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, Umerov indicated.
The goal of our talks was to discuss the ceasefire, the prisoner exchange, and potentially prepare a meeting at the level of the country's leaders, Umerov emphasized.
Russians satisfied with the talks
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, stated that he is satisfied with the outcome of the talks. Medinsky also confirmed that the prisoner exchange involving 1,000 for 1,000 was discussed. It will occur in the coming days, he indicated.
Medinsky conveyed that Kyiv requested talks at the presidential level between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Rodion Miroshnik, participating in the talks, referred to the possible Putin-Zelensky talks as pointless. "The mere fact of such a meeting will not bring any added value. We need substantive agreement projects, which the Russian delegation requested from the Ukrainian side. The 'conversational genre' alone is not enough here; we need substantive things that will form the basis for a possible peaceful solution," he said, as quoted by the Kremlin agency TASS.
The Russian side also announced the continuation of talks. Each side is to present details of its concept regarding a future ceasefire.
Unrealistic demands from Russia
According to information provided by, among others, Reuters, Axios, and Sky News, the Russian demands are "unrealistic." Among the proposals was the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from areas considered by the Russians as "occupied"—namely, the territories of the Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions.
Ukrainian media also highlight that the Moscow delegation did not want the Turkish side to participate in the talks.
