US wants Russia to drop Medinsky from Ukraine peace talks, reports say
Photo: Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
The US would like Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, to no longer participate in negotiations with Ukraine, reports Bloomberg.
According to its sources, American officials are currently in contact with Ukrainians to ensure negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
“They’re also signaling to Russian counterparts that they’d prefer to avoid participation in the meeting by hardliners such as Putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led Moscow’s delegation in Istanbul, the people added,” Bloomberg writes.
Ukraine-Russia talks
On May 16, direct negotiations took place between Ukraine and Russia for the first time in three years. Delegations from both countries met in Istanbul, Türkiye. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also arrived in the country intending to hold a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin, but the latter ignored the call for dialogue.
The Ukrainian side was represented by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while the Russian side by Putin’s adviser Vladimir Medinsky. During the negotiations, the sides agreed on a large prisoner exchange in the 1,000-for-1,000 format.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said recently that Pope Leo XIV is ready to host negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
