First official negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place in Istanbul for the first time in over three years, which in itself was an important and symbolic step
However, the information released by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Serhii Kyslytsia, indicates that these talks were profoundly different from any previous ones. According to the Ukrainian diplomat, the representatives of Russia did not hide their aggression and during the meeting flooded the dialogue with threats, cynicism, and primitive immoral statements. As Kyslytsia shared in an interview broadcast on a television marathon on Saturday evening, the level of aggression from the Russian delegation was astounding. He explained that during the discussion, the Russians did not shy away from numerous provocations, including long historical arguments and "pseudo-excursions," emphasizing that "today we demand 4 regions, tomorrow – 6 or 8." No less cynical was a statement from one Russian representative, who boldly declared that "war is when Russians kill Russians," implying internal conflicts and destruction caused by the occupiers in Ukrainian cities. Moreover, Kyslytsia emphasizes that this "stream of malicious threats" reveals a clear strategy — the Russians seem to be refusing to recognize Ukraine's sovereignty, its right to independence and territorial integrity. "They deny your existence as a nation and as an individual, meaning they say: 'You are not Ukrainian, you are Russian, and we are just killing you, simply Russians killing Russians,'" the diplomat noted. Kyslytsia also reported that on the eve of the negotiations, the Russian side blocked the possibility of discussions in the presence of U.S. representatives. While Turkey, acting as a mediator and present at the meeting, did not directly participate in the negotiations. Russia stated that it did not have the mandate to conduct negotiations in such a format, effectively leaving the Ukrainian side without any chance for constructive dialogue. The background of this meeting is quite dramatic. According to media reports, the Russian side in Istanbul presented a number of ultimatums, including critical demands for Ukraine aimed at renouncing territorial claims and reparations. Russia insisted that U.S. representatives be excluded from the negotiations, hinting at distrust toward foreign mediators and a possible attempt to control the course of the dialogue. Last month, on May 16, the first open direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in a long time took place in Turkey. These occurred amid numerous efforts to find a path to end the months-long conflict, but tensions were already evident at that time. Russia demanded that U.S. representatives not participate, seeking to recommend its own conditions, particularly regarding international guarantees and territorial issues. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation, publicly declared that Moscow is prepared for endless war. He threatened to seize not only Ukrainian territories but also specific regions — Sumy and Kharkiv — hinting that Russian occupying forces have no intention of stopping and are ready to go further with their aggressive plans. Medinsky bluntly and openly questioned how many more years Ukrainians are willing to fight, comparing the situation to a 21-year war with Sweden, suggesting that this war could be prolonged and unprecedented for Russia. From his side, Serhii Kyslytsia characterizes Russian behavior as that of "gangsters" — with the same cynicism, brutality, and neglect for diplomatic rules. His words highlight the level of shame and unprecedented aggression exhibited by members of the Russian delegation during the negotiations. They do not conceal their goals — they openly aim to destroy Ukrainian statehood and territorial integrity, while throwing insults and accusations at Ukraine to increase their pressure. Against the backdrop of increasing tension and growing uncertainty, only hope remains that even in the most difficult times, diplomacy and international support will not completely give up their positions and will enable Ukraine to maintain its sovereignty and independence amid this brutal confrontation. At the same time, Russia's actions demonstrate that for Moscow, this conflict is less about territory and more about demonstrating its power and destroying Ukraine's attempts to become an independent and self-sufficient state.