RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia’s top negotiator outlines key outcomes of Istanbul talks

Russia’s chief negotiator at the Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, has delivered a statement following the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kiev in three years. The discussions on Friday lasted for nearly two hours.

Medinsky announced a major prisoner exchange, acknowledged Kiev’s request for a meeting involving Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and confirmed that both sides will soon present detailed proposals for a potential ceasefire, after which the negotiations will continue.

Here is the full text of Medinsky’s statement: 

Dear colleagues,

Direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side, organized at the initiative of the president of Russia, have just concluded. Overall, we are satisfied with the outcome and are ready to continue contacts.

Here is what was agreed:

First – in the coming days, a large-scale prisoner exchange will take place, 1,000 for 1,000 people.

Second – the Ukrainian side requested direct talks between the heads of state, and we have taken this request into account.

And third – we agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire, outlining it in detail. Once these visions are presented, it has been mutually agreed that it would be appropriate to continue our negotiations.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Europeans and Zelenskiy agree Russian stance is 'unacceptable', Starmer says

The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland agreed on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Russia's position in peace talks was "unacceptable" and also consulted with U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

The first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years took place in Istanbul on Friday.

They lasted well under two hours, with no apparent sign of progress so far in narrowing the gap between the sides, and a Ukrainian source called Moscow's demands "non-starters".

Starmer made his comments in a brief joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at a European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania.

Starmer said the leaders had met with Zelenskiy - who is also at the summit - to discuss the Istanbul talks and had also had a call with Trump.

"The Russian position is clearly unacceptable, and not for the first time," Starmer said.

"And so as a result of that meeting with President Zelenskiy and the discussion with President Trump, we are now closely aligning and coordinating our responses and will continue to do so," he said.

The leaders did not take any questions from reporters.

RT/Reuters