According to information from several sources within the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are scheduled to begin in Istanbul on May 16. This will mark the first significant dialogue between the parties after a prolonged hiatus that has lasted since 2022, and it is crucial for exploring possible pathways to end the conflict.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Organizational and Diplomatic Aspects of the Negotiations
According to data released by the Ukrainian President’s Office, the Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, is expected to arrive in Istanbul late on May 15 to participate in the negotiation process. At the same time, Russian sources report that the negotiations will commence on May 16 and that the Russian side is prepared to discuss possible compromises. The head of the Russian delegation and assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Medinsky, stated that the country aims to resume negotiations that were interrupted in 2022.
Main Goals and Discussion Topics
The Ukrainian delegation identifies the establishment of a ceasefire agreement lasting at least 30 days as one of the main prerequisites for peace negotiations. However, during the negotiations in March 2022, the issue of a ceasefire was not raised. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the necessity of Vladimir Putin’s participation in the negotiations and expressed his readiness to meet personally with the Russian leader. Initially, the Kremlin did not confirm Putin’s participation, but on May 14, they announced the composition of the delegation without including him.