Russian officials in Istanbul expressed a completely unfounded and threatening stance regarding the war with Ukraine, stated Oliver Carroll, a columnist for the French magazine The Economist
According to him, citing reliable sources, the Russian delegation insisted that their country is prepared to wage an endless war against its Ukrainian neighbor, while simultaneously threatening the possible occupation of key territories—Sumy and Kharkiv regions, which Russian forces currently control partially or not at all. The head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, made a rather alarming statement during the negotiations. He openly expressed Russia's intention to remain at war with Ukraine for an indeterminate period. He was quoted as saying: “We do not seek war, but we are ready to fight for years — one, two, three, or as long as it takes. We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you prepared to fight? Perhaps some of those sitting at this table risk losing more of their loved ones. Russia is ready to fight forever.” These are not all the threats voiced in Barcelona during the negotiations, as, according to reliable sources from the international relations sphere, a well-informed source told correspondent Carroll that Moscow has set an ultimatum: a ceasefire is only possible if Ukrainian authorities leave four regions under Russian control — including those that Kyiv officially considers its own territories. This refers to the so-called “quadrilateral” zone, but Vladimir Putin and his team do not hide their ambitions to further capture other Ukrainian regions. Specifically, active discussions are taking place around the prospects of capturing Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, where Ukraine faces ongoing aggression and shelling, and Russian troops are striving to consolidate their positions there as firmly as possible. On the international stage, these statements have caused significant resonance. Official Kyiv strongly condemns such declarations, pointing to their destructive nature and Russia’s unwillingness to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and representatives of the foreign policy department have already expressed concern that Russian officials openly talk about the possibility of a lifelong war, threatening not only Ukraine's losses but also destabilization across the entire region. Currently, Ukrainian authorities reaffirm their resilience and inspired determination in defending their borders, while the international community calls for diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict, prevent escalation, and return to mechanisms that promote long-term peace. At the same time, the statements of Russian representatives in Istanbul clearly demonstrate that Moscow is entrenching its position and giving no chance for a quick end to the war, instead trying to break the will of the Ukrainian people and discredit the diplomatic efforts of the global community.