The Ukrainian and Russian delegations at the recent talks in Istanbul communicated via an interpreter.
RBC-Ukraine media outlet cited an informed source confirming the use of an interpreter, but did not provide further details about the talks. Some media outlets noted that during the 2022 negotiations, the Ukrainian delegation had switched to speaking Russian.
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The US outlet Axios, citing a Ukrainian source, reported that the meeting lasted just over an hour and yielded no substantial progress.
The source added: “Russian demands are detached from reality and go far beyond what was previously discussed.”
Meanwhile, Sky News reported that Russia’s demands included the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from their territory in exchange for a ceasefire – an unacceptable position for Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the European Political Community summit in Albania, said Russia had sent the same delegation as in 2022, with no decision-making authority.
“Moscow has not changed its basic approach,” Zelensky said. “If it turns out that the Russian delegation is just theater, then the world must react. There must be a powerful response – including sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks.”
He reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to pursue every realistic path to end the war.
“We need a complete cessation of killings to give diplomacy a real chance,” Zelensky added.
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Direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations resumed in Istanbul on Friday at 1:38 p.m., slightly later than the planned 12:30 p.m. start.
These were the first bilateral negotiations since a failed round in 2022, which Russia claims Friday’s talks are meant to resume.
Zelensky said the goal is to reach a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, but Russia’s delegation - led by Kremlin hardliner and former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky – is not believed to have the authority to make such decisions. Ukraine’s team is headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Moscow rejected the participation of US and Turkish mediators, insisting on a bilateral format. US State Secretary Marco Rubio met with Ukraine’s delegation earlier in the day.
Western diplomats told Kyiv Post the meeting could be “either a monumental mess or a very sophisticated diplomatic game.” Sanctions could follow if Moscow fails to show progress on a ceasefire by the end of the week.
The Kremlin says its delegation aims to discuss the “root causes” of the war – a phrase previously used to justify efforts to weaken Ukrainian sovereignty.
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