Russia signals willingness to negotiate, casts doubt on Ukraine’s intentions

Ryabkov also indicated that the upcoming talks in Istanbul would centre on achieving a sustainable peace agreement that reflects the situation on the ground – particularly the contested territorial issues.

“These are the same issues we have raised over and over and which have been on the agenda recently: how to ensure a secure and lasting settlement of the situation, first of all through addressing the root causes of this conflict, resolving issues of the denazification of the Kiev regime, ensuring that current realities on the ground are recognised, including the accession of new territories to Russia,” Ryabkov told journalists.

On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being “scared” to meet him for direct talks in Turkey this week. Zelensky made clear that he would only attend the high-stakes negotiations if Putin himself were present. “Only a face-to-face meeting with the Russian president can deliver peace,” he said.

The Kremlin, however, has so far declined to confirm whether Putin will travel to Turkey. A spokesperson stated only that “the Russian side continues to prepare for the negotiations.”