Russian activists urge Putin to remove Medinsky from negotiation team over 'incompetence'
Photo: Vladimir Medinsky (Getty Images)
Russian activists are demanding the removal of Vladimir Medinsky from his position as head of the Russian delegation at the negotiations in Istanbul, according to the press service of the Russian movement Nash Vykhod.
The Russian movement Nash Vykhod, founded by women who are relatives of prisoners of war, has issued a public demand to remove Vladimir Medinsky from his position as head of the Russian negotiation team in Istanbul. The activists sent the corresponding appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov.
The reason was Medinsky’s recent public statement claiming that the prisoner exchange agreements of June 2, 2025, had been fulfilled. The agreement concerned an all-for-all exchange in two categories: young servicemen under the age of 25, and those who are severely wounded or critically ill. Nash Vykhod states that this is not true and expressed outrage over his remarks.
"If the head of the negotiation team is unaware of this information, it is unacceptable. And if he is aware and is deliberately distorting reality — that is a lie. In either case, such a person should not represent Russia in such a critically important humanitarian matter," reads the statement, which was delivered by movement member Irina Krynina.
The movement emphasizes that Medinsky’s actions undermine the trust of POWs’ relatives and harm the negotiation process. In their view, a representative of the delegation must fully understand the weight of every word and possess accurate information.
Krynina also suggested that such behavior may not be part of a broader Kremlin strategy, but rather the result of Medinsky’s personal incompetence or his own distorted understanding of the situation. The movement hopes that the exchange process in the mentioned categories will continue — not just in words, but in action.
Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul
On August 23, the third meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place. One of the outcomes of the talks was an agreement on another prisoner exchange — this time to include not only military personnel but also civilians.
Following the negotiations, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov announced that the Ukrainian side had proposed organizing a high-level meeting before the end of August.
The initiative, in particular, involves the participation of not only the presidents of Ukraine and Russia — Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin — but also US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
However, the head of the Russian delegation stated that such a meeting would require thorough preparation. At the same time, he did not provide a clear response to Ukraine’s proposal.
