Russia satisfied with results of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul

According to RIA Novosti, the first talks between Russia and Ukraine after three years of conflict ended in Istanbul on May 16. They agreed on a major prisoner exchange and prepared detailed proposals for a ceasefire.

The talks began at 1:39 p.m. (Istanbul time) and lasted nearly two hours. As the delegates left the room, it was unclear whether the dialogue had ended or whether there would be another round of talks.

“In general, as the initiator of the negotiations, we are satisfied with the results and are ready to continue contacts,” said Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian delegation.

The sides agreed on the biggest prisoner swap in three years: 1,000 for 1,000. Previously, the maximum was 246:246.

According to Mr. Medinsky, Ukraine has requested to hold a meeting of heads of state and Moscow has considered this request.

"We agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible ceasefire in the future. They will elaborate," Medinsky said.

This topic was discussed the most in the media even before the meeting. Kiev even stated that it did not want to hear anything other than a 30-day ceasefire. Moscow repeatedly explained that Russia was not against a ceasefire, but as President Vladimir Putin said, "there are nuances."

First of all, it is still unclear who and how will monitor compliance with the ceasefire. In addition, the Kremlin doubts the control of the Ukrainian army, which often ignores the orders of the commander-in-chief, as the experience of the war in Donbass since 2014 has shown.

Russia sees the current dialogue format as a resumption of negotiations in March 2022, but with adjustments to take into account the changed situation.

Now in Istanbul, as Mr. Medinsky said, the Russian delegation “cited and reiterated” the conditions they had agreed with Ukraine in Gomel in the early days of the conflict.

“It is very important to recall what we agreed in Gomel at the end of February 2022. And how it could have ended, if Ukraine had agreed to peace then. They did not agree, they delayed. That means the next stage of the agreements took place in Istanbul,” Medinsky explained.

According to The Guardian, British Prime Minister Jonathan Powell's adviser has been appointed as an adviser to the Ukrainian side. And after the meeting of the delegations, the source said President Zelensky called US President Donald Trump. They were joined by French leader Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

The US President did not rule out the possibility that he would also discuss the negotiations with Russian President Putin. Currently, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations remain in Istanbul.