Ukrainian and Russian delegations at Istanbul talks use interpreter, source says
Photo: Ukraine and Russia are holding talks in Istanbul (Russian media)
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing in Istanbul. The parties are communicating through an interpreter, an informed source told RBC-Ukraine.
The source did not disclose further details.
Negotiations in Istanbul
Today, May 16, at around 1:30 p.m. Kyiv time, Ukraine and Russia began negotiations in Istanbul. The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and also includes representatives of Ukrainian intelligence agencies, the General Staff, the Security Service of Ukraine, and other security agencies.
The Russian delegation is headed by the aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Medinsky. It includes the head of the GRU Igor Kostyukov, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, and other officials.
The negotiations are taking place behind closed doors. Sources of RBC-Ukraine said that the Russians opposed the participation of American and Turkish officials in the talks.
Moreover, just yesterday Medinsky stated that Russia considers the current negotiations a continuation of the negotiation process in 2022, when Moscow demanded Kyiv’s capitulation.
Russia sent a low-level delegation to the meeting. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the officials from the aggressor state taking part in the negotiations do not make decisions in Russia.
Read more about the negotiations in the RBC-Ukraine coverage.
