Kremlin lists conditions for talks in Istanbul: What Russia wants from Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
During negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russia intends to raise previously discussed issues — particularly the recognition of the occupied territories as Russian, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.
According to him, the topics of the negotiations on Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15 will cover issues of "sustainable settlement and the realities on the ground, including the question of territories."
Ryabkov also repeated the Kremlin's usual narratives about the so-called "root causes" of Russia's war against Ukraine. He again mentioned the "denazification of the Kyiv regime" and the need to "recognize new realities" — referring to the occupation of Ukrainian territories.
"The topics are the same ones we've discussed many times: how to ensure a reliable and lasting settlement of the situation, primarily by addressing the root causes of this conflict — resolving issues related to the denazification of the Kyiv regime and ensuring recognition of the realities that have emerged on the ground in recent times, including the incorporation of new territories into the Russian Federation," Ryabkov said.
Talks in Istanbul
Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to support the ceasefire proposal put forward by Ukraine, the United States, and the Coalition of the Willing, which was scheduled for May 12. Instead, he announced a desire to resume peace negotiations in Istanbul, set to take place on May 15.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he is ready for talks — on the condition that Russia agrees to a ceasefire starting from May 12.
Zelenskyy later made a counter-proposal: he wants the meeting in Istanbul to take place at the highest level and has committed to attending in person.
At this point, it remains unclear who will represent Russia in Istanbul, as Putin has not yet responded to Zelenskyy's proposal.
