Media reveal Russia's 'demands' at negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul
Representatives of the Russian delegation at negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul (Photo: Getty Images)
Head of the delegation from Moscow and aide to the Russian President, Vladimir Medinsky, voiced a number of maximalist demands from the Kremlin during negotiations in Istanbul with representatives of Ukraine, reports the Clash Report.
According to the Western edition, the head of the Russian delegation at the negotiation table with Ukrainian representatives in Türkiye voiced five demands, which concern:
- Ukraine's "neutrality,"
- refusal to seek reparations,
- rights of Russian speakers,
- "recognition" of the occupation of Ukrainian territories,
- and the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from several regions for an immediate ceasefire.
Details on each of the points:
- "Neutral" Ukraine: The country is allegedly not to host any foreign troops or weapons of mass destruction, following a model of neutrality similar to that of Austria.
- No reparations: Both sides are supposedly to abandon any claims for compensation for damages caused by the war.
- Rights of Russian speakers: Ukraine is expected to adopt European standards regarding minority rights and put an end to nationalist propaganda.
- "Recognition" of territories: Ukraine is allegedly not to oppose Russia’s constitutional claims over five Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea. Additionally, the Kremlin seeks international recognition of its control over these occupied territories.
- Immediate ceasefire condition: Ukraine’s Defense Forces are supposedly required to withdraw from all five regions claimed by Russia for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Meeting of representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and Türkiye in Istanbul on May 16 (photo: x.com/clashreport)
Negotiations in Istanbul and information about Russia's unrealistic demands
On May 16, negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in Istanbul, Türkiye. According to media reports, the meeting between the delegations from Kyiv and Moscow lasted a little over an hour. The parties did not achieve significant progress toward peace but agreed to a prisoner exchange in a 1000 for 1000 format.
According to The Economist, during the talks in Istanbul, the Russian delegation threatened to capture two more Ukrainian regions - Kharkiv and Sumy - as well as to continue the war forever.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Russian delegation put forward a number of unacceptable demands during the negotiations, which do not align with Ukraine’s interests. However, the MFA noted that Kyiv's representatives stood their ground, held their position, and kept steering the discussion back to points important to Ukraine.
It should also be noted that in a comment to RBK-Ukraine's YouTube channel, analyst Mykhailo Samus said that the Ukraine-Russia negotiations revealed the Kremlin’s basic scenario - namely, the launch of a summer military campaign against Ukraine.
More on why the Istanbul negotiations did not bring the war closer to an end can be found in a separate article by RBC-Ukraine.
