Ukraine's Foreign Minister and Kallas discuss new pressure on Moscow after Istanbul talks
Photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas following the talks in Istanbul. They agreed to step up pressure on Russia, according to Sybiha on X.
The foreign minister noted that he informed Kallas about the results of the recent intensive diplomatic engagements in Türkiye, including the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul.
"We agreed that pressure on Moscow must be increased to achieve a full and lasting ceasefire, end the killings, and advance peace efforts," Sybiha wrote.
Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul
On May 16, Istanbul hosted the first meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in three years. The talks lasted just over an hour, but the sides failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin sent a second-tier delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky. Ukraine was represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Despite the lack of a breakthrough on a ceasefire, one important agreement was reached: a large-scale prisoner exchange in the "1,000 for 1,000" format, as confirmed by Umerov after the meeting.
Sources of RBC-Ukraine report that during the negotiations, Russia voiced a number of unacceptable demands: Ukraine must agree to a neutral status, give up five regions (including some not controlled by Russia), withdraw its forces from those areas, and abandon claims for reparations.
More details on the Ukraine-Russia talks can be found in RBC-Ukraine’s full report.
