Russia’s diplomat in Turkey, Alexey Ivanov, has stated that Moscow is ready to resume direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul at any moment.
However, Ivanov noted that Moscow is awaiting a positive response from Kyiv, which has not responded favorably to previous initiatives.
Russia Ready to Resume Talks with Ukraine in Istanbul
“The Russian side has repeatedly emphasized that we are ready to continue direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side, with the Ukrainian delegation,” the dilpomat said.
“Our Turkish partners have also consistently stressed that the Istanbul platform remains available to us, these doors remain open.”
He added that if Kyiv demonstrates political will, “we are ready for such negotiations at any moment.”
Ivanov mentioned that the Russian side had made several proposals during previous rounds of negotiations, including the formation of online working groups, but Ukraine has not yet given a positive response.
“A whole range of initiatives was put forward, including establishing three online working groups. Unfortunately, we have not yet received a positive response to these initiatives from the Ukrainian side,” he added.
Russia-Ukraine May Istanbul Talks Flop
Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in three years, in May this year, discussing a ceasefire and potential talks between the two countries’ leaders.
However, there were no signs of a major breakthrough, as a Ukrainian source reported that the Russian delegation demanded that Kyiv relinquish territory under its control.
Notably, neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nor Russian President Vladimir Putin attended, following several days of confusion. Zelenskyy criticized Putin for not sending “any real decision-makers” to the talks.
Another notable absence was US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly suggested he might adjust his Middle East travel schedule to join the negotiations.
Russia “voiced a number of things which we deem unacceptable” during the talks, the Ukrainian foreign minister’s spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi told reporters in Istanbul, adding that Ukraine’s delegation “handled it in a calm manner … still staying with our line.”
Erdogan Says Putin, Zelenskiy “Not Yet Ready” for Face-to-Face Meet on War
In September, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he discussed ways to end the Ukraine war with Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in China and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by phone, but that the sides were “not yet ready” for a leaders’ meeting.
Turkey favours “raising the level of negotiations gradually” to turn hopes for peace into concrete results, he said, adding that any initiative would ultimately need to be handled at the leaders’ level, though conditions were not yet in place.
NATO member Turkey has kept channels open with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s 2022 invasion and has sought to mediate between them.
Also Read: Serbian President Warns of Potential War Between European and Russia
Ukraine Official in Istanbul to Negotiate Resumption of Prisoner Exchanges with Russia
This comes after Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation for direct talks with Russia, arrived in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Tuesday.
In a statement on Telegram, Umerov said that the purpose of his visit was to resume the exchange of prisoners of war with Russia.
“These days, I will be working in Türkiye and the Middle East to unblock the exchange process. There was an agreement, and we need to implement it,” he said.
According to Umerov, meetings are scheduled in Türkiye to discuss the resumption of exchanges. He did not specify who exactly would participate in the meetings.
During the last, or third, round of direct talks in Istanbul on July 23, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange prisoners of war and civilians.
Moscow also proposed that Kyiv form three online working groups to address political, humanitarian, and military issues. However, the Kremlin later said that Moscow had not received a response from Kyiv regarding this proposal.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
