A historic negotiation took place in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine – the first direct discussion in over three years
Unfortunately, the content of the talks once again stirred tensions, as the Russian delegation voiced ultimatums that cast doubt on the possibility of a quick peace. According to Bloomberg, which cited well-informed sources familiar with the negotiations, representatives of the Kremlin in Istanbul introduced several unacceptable demands for Ukraine. Specifically, they insist that Kyiv officially confirm the country's neutral status, abandon any alliance agreements with the West, and prevent the stationing of foreign military formations and weapons of mass destruction on its territory. The Kremlin’s intention is that these guarantees would ensure Ukraine remains within Moscow’s “sphere of influence” and reduce the likelihood of future military actions. Additionally, Moscow demands that the Ukrainian delegation unconditionally and properly renounce claims to reparations that Ukraine might seek upon the end of the conflict. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasizes that Kremlin leaders consider their decision to annex several key Ukrainian regions as non-negotiable. This includes Crimea, as well as four other regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and partially Zaporizhzhia. Although control over some of these remains incomplete, Russia insists on their formal recognition as part of its territory. A particular focus in Moscow was on the assertion that Vladimir Putin would agree to a ceasefire only when Ukraine withdraws its forces from the occupied regions and hands over control to Russian forces. German, French, and other international diplomatic sources also report that the Kremlin is making severe demands regarding international recognition of these regions as part of the Russian Federation, effectively turning the conflict into a “frozen” situation with minimal prospects for quick resolution. This was the first attempt at direct dialogue after a long hiatus, and it has already caused considerable concern among Ukrainian diplomats. Kyiv states that the Russian demands are unacceptable and radical. According to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Georgetiy Tykhyy, the Russian delegation during the Istanbul talks articulated a series of conditions that Kyiv cannot accept. However, he refrained from publicly detailing Russia’s demands and noted only that the Ukrainian side called their behavior and proposals unconstructive, without going into specifics. This first meeting in a long time is a significant and modest step in the prolonged process of seeking compromise. Nonetheless, its results remain rather dubious due to the harsh ultimatums put forward by Russia. How these negotiations will ultimately end is uncertain, but it is clear that neither side can claim a breakthrough in this complex and convoluted conflict, which has been ongoing for over a year and deeply impacts the situation across the region and the world.