Moscow's firm stance blocks ceasefire progress in Istanbul talks
During Friday's talks in Istanbul, Russia presented Ukraine with a series of conditions that need to be met before a ceasefire can be established. Among these, the Kremlin lists the recognition of the annexation of Crimea and other regions, and the adoption of a neutral status, Bloomberg reported on Saturday.
During Friday's talks in Istanbul, the Russian delegation presented Ukraine with a list of conditions required to achieve a ceasefire. Russia demands that Ukraine adopt a neutral status, meaning no presence of foreign troops or weapons of mass destruction on its territory.
Additionally, Moscow expects Ukraine to officially renounce claims for reparations and recognize the annexation of Crimea and four other occupied regions.
Kremlin's demands on Ukraine
The Kremlin also sets a condition for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, transferring them to Russia. Russia expects international recognition of these areas, including Crimea, as part of the Russian Federation. According to Bloomberg, Vladimir Putin will agree to a ceasefire only after meeting these demands.
First talks in three years
The meeting in Istanbul marked the first direct dialogue between representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian authorities in three years. Defence Minister Rustem Umierov led the Ukrainian delegation, while Vladimir Medinsky, an advisor to Putin, headed the Russian delegation. During the talks, they also discussed the possibility of exchanging prisoners at a ratio of 1,000 to 1,000 people and preparing for a potential meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
