16.05.2025 07:40
Turkey will host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine today. In the negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations will discuss the terms of peace. While the Russian delegation wants to base the discussions on the Istanbul negotiations of 2022, the Ukrainian delegation will bring up issues of territorial integrity and security guarantees.
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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the U.S. delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Ukrainian delegation led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Russian delegation led by Russian President Vladimir Putin's Advisor Vladimir Medinskiy will be in Istanbul today for ceasefire talks.
In the negotiations hosted by Turkey, while the Russian delegation wants to base its discussions on the Istanbul negotiations of 2022, the Ukrainian delegation will bring issues of territorial integrity and security guarantees to the table.
MEDINSKIY WILL CHAIR THE RUSSIAN DELEGATION
The Russian delegation, which has attracted significant interest from local and foreign press, will be chaired by Vladimir Medinskiy, Advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The delegation will include Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Galuzin, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of Russia (GRU) Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Alexander Fomin.
Among the experts in the delegation are Deputy Head of the Information Directorate of the General Staff of Russia Alexander Zorin and Deputy Head of the State Policy Directorate in the Humanitarian Field of the Presidential Administration of Russia Yevgeniya Podobreyevskaya, as well as Director of the Second Department for the Commonwealth of Independent States of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Polishchuk and Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Russia Vladimir Shevtsov. Medinskiy had also chaired the Russian delegation in the 2022 talks.
UKRAINIAN DELEGATION
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree regarding the formation of the Ukrainian delegation that will participate in the peace negotiations to be held in Istanbul. The delegation, formed to meet with Turkish, Russian, and U.S. officials, will be chaired by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
The following names will be part of the delegation:
"Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad, Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskyi, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine Oleksii Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GUR) Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of the Air Force Command of Ukraine Yevhenii Shynkarev, Deputy Head of the Naval Forces Command of Ukraine Oleksandr Dyakov, Head of the International and Operational Law Department of the Central Legal Department of the General Staff of Ukraine Oleksii Malovatskyi, Senior Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of Ukraine Oleksandr Sherikhov, Protocol Officer of the Support Unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Heorhii Kuzmychev, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksandr Bevz."
Additionally, Zelensky canceled the decree dated April 4, 2022, which prevented the Ukrainian delegation from participating in talks with Russia regarding the preparation and coordination of a draft agreement on Ukraine's security guarantees.
"WE INTEND TO ENGAGE IN SERIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL WORK IN ISTANBUL"
Vladimir Medinskiy, Advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Russian delegation in the negotiations in Istanbul, stated in a written statement that they came to Istanbul at Putin's instruction, saying, "We intend to engage in serious and professional work in Istanbul." Medinskiy also addressed the goals of the Russian side in the negotiations, stating, "The purpose of the direct negotiations proposed by Putin is to achieve long-term and lasting peace by eliminating the root causes of the conflict."
"OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM PEACE"
Vladimir Medinskiy later made statements to the press in front of the Russian Consulate General building in Istanbul. He noted that Russian President Putin held a meeting yesterday regarding the preparation process of the delegation that will participate in negotiations with Ukraine, stating that the positions in the negotiations were determined during the meeting.
Head of the delegation Medinskiy stated, "We view the negotiations as a continuation of the peace talks disrupted by Ukraine in 2022 in Istanbul. Our delegation has been approved by the President's decree and is fully authorized to continue the negotiations. Our delegation intends to engage in constructive work, seeking possible solutions and common ground. Our goal in direct negotiations with Ukraine is to achieve long-term peace by eliminating the root causes of the crisis, sooner or later."
ZELENSKY CAME TO TURKEY
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Ankara to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. After his meeting with President Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex, Zelensky held a press conference at the Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara.
Evaluating the Russia-Ukraine negotiations to be held in Istanbul, Zelensky noted that Russia did not send a high-level delegation to Turkey. Zelensky stated, "After seeing the level of the Russian delegation, unfortunately, we see that they are not very serious about real negotiations."
Zelensky announced that he would send a delegation led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul, saying, "Out of respect for President Trump and President Erdoğan, we decided to send a delegation to Istanbul." He expressed that this decision was also made to ensure a ceasefire and to end the war.
"WE WILL MEET WITH U.S., TURKISH, AND UKRAINIAN GROUPS"
In his meeting with President Erdoğan, Zelensky mentioned that they discussed the Ukrainian delegation's meeting with Turkish and U.S. delegations on May 15-16, stating, "We will meet with U.S., Turkish, and Ukrainian groups." Zelensky emphasized that an unconditional ceasefire should be achieved first, saying, "I believe that all parties should show that they are ready for negotiations. The first step should be an unconditional ceasefire."
Zelensky also emphasized that decisions like a ceasefire should be made at the level of state leaders, stating that he is ready to discuss if an unconditional ceasefire will be discussed at the leaders' level, saying, "If an unconditional ceasefire is to be discussed at the leaders' level, I am here, ready for direct talks." In his speech, Zelensky stated, "If an unconditional ceasefire can be achieved at the level of technical teams, without leaders, there is no problem. There is no need for discussion; it will be the first step."
Zelensky noted that the first step should be taken to achieve a ceasefire in the talks in Istanbul, saying, "We must take the first step."
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "If we do not start, the war could last for many years." He stated, "If there is no ceasefire, if serious decisions are not made, if there are no bilateral talks, then we want appropriate (sanctions against Russia) that will encourage a faster end to the war."
Zelensky noted that he and the delegation he brought to Turkey showed that they really want the war to end. He emphasized that the representatives in his delegation are authorized to make decisions, stating, "Everyone present here has an institutional authority to agree on steps that will bring an end to the war."
Claiming that Russia has shown it is not willing to end the war according to the delegation sent to Turkey, Zelensky said, "If there is no ceasefire, if serious decisions are not made, if there are no bilateral talks, then we want appropriate (sanctions against Russia) that will encourage a faster end to the war."
"CRIMEA IS UKRAINE"
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's territorial integrity is a red line for them and stated that they will not discuss this issue in negotiations. Noting that Turkey also supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, Zelensky said, "We do not recognize the temporarily occupied territories, we do not recognize the peninsula (Crimea) as Russia. I emphasize this in all discussions. This is my unwavering position. We do not legally recognize all our temporarily occupied territories as Russian land. Crimea is part of Ukraine; Crimea is Ukraine."
Zelensky stated that they are trying to defend their country, saying, "The problem is not Ukraine; Ukraine is just trying to defend itself." Addressing developments on the front in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, Zelensky emphasized that the Russians will do everything to achieve their goals, stating, "We will also do our best to prevent these goals."
DELEGATIONS WILL DISCUSS THE TERMS OF PEACE
In the negotiations in Istanbul, both sides are expected to present their conditions for ending the war and achieving peace. The Russian side wants the text that emerged from the negotiations held in Istanbul in 2022 to be used as a basis in negotiations with Ukraine.
Moscow has also included the illegally annexed regions, which it refers to as "new realities" on the ground, among its conditions. Emphasizing its intention not to freeze the conflicts but to end them definitively, Moscow demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian soldiers from the administrative borders of the annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporijya, and Kherson regions.
MOSCOW WANTS A "NEUTRAL AND NON-ALIGNED UKRAINE"
"The establishment of a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-weapon-free status for Ukraine, its disarmament, the denazification, and the full guarantee of the rights, freedoms, and interests of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine, and the recognition of the annexed Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporijya, and Kherson regions as part of Russia" are among Moscow's fundamental conditions.
After resolving the crisis, Moscow proposes to gradually start establishing good neighborly relations with Ukraine and Europe. Following this, it suggests creating an "Eurasian security system" that takes into account the interests of all states on the continent, in cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries, and Western and European states.
UKRAINE CONDITIONS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SECURITY GUARANTEES
Kiev prioritizes the complete assurance of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as security guarantees. Within the framework of security guarantees, Kiev expects an invitation to NATO or to be placed under NATO protection, and it also wants a peacekeeping force from Europe to be deployed in its country.
Additionally, the provision of nuclear weapons to Ukraine and some form of deterrence package are also among Kiev's conditions. Kiev also demands that Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporijya, and Kherson be freed from Russian control and that Ukraine return to its internationally recognized borders.
After the end of the war, the support of the US and Europe for the reconstruction of the country's economy and the arming of the army is also among Kiev's requests.
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