On Friday morning in Istanbul, the Russian delegation made an important statement regarding bilateral negotiations with Ukraine
The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, openly invited Ukrainian representatives to participate in the negotiation process, emphasizing that the meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. later that day. This information was confirmed by Russian propaganda agencies TASS and RBC, which quoted Medinsky as saying: the Russians arrived in Istanbul without any preconditions or demands and are ready for direct dialogue with the Ukrainian side. According to reports, the Russian delegation managed to hold a productive meeting with Turkish officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Russia's position on future negotiations was announced. Reliable sources indicate that during this meeting, the Russian delegation clarified its stance and expressed readiness for an open dialogue without prior ultimatums or restrictions. Prior to this, the U.S. government questioned the prospects of successful negotiations. Deputy Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in comments that he currently does not see prospects for a significant breakthrough in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, hinting at the low likelihood of reaching quick agreements. Regarding personnel decisions, on May 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the composition of the delegation for negotiations with Ukraine. Notably, Putin himself does not appear on the list published the day before. The head of the Russian delegation is designated as Vladimir Medinsky, who in early 2022 already led the negotiation process between the two countries. On the Ukrainian side, in response, President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the composition of the Ukrainian delegation for the upcoming talks in Istanbul on May 15. The group includes 12 representatives of Ukrainian authorities, with Zelensky personally overseeing the participants to facilitate the achievement of a just and sustainable peace on Ukrainian land. Thus, the situation surrounding the potential negotiations remains tense and multifaceted, and the date and format of upcoming talks remain uncertain. As analysts and witnesses note, these negotiations could become an important step toward finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict, but their success still remains highly uncertain.