Istanbul, May 16 (EFE).– The first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since 2022 ended after just one hour and 45 minutes on Thursday in Istanbul, with no breakthrough and deep divisions remaining.
The difference deepened particularly over Moscow’s demand that Kyiv withdraw from territories it controls in four occupied regions in eastern Ukraine.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan served as mediator during the session.
Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne described the meeting as being on “pause,” suggesting that talks could resume, although no confirmation was given by either side.
A Ukrainian delegation source cited by Suspilne said Russia restated its precondition for any peace deal: Ukraine must pull out of the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022, a condition Kyiv has consistently rejected since it was first raised last June.
Russia’s state news agency Tass also called the outcome a “pause,” adding that a decision on whether to continue negotiations remains pending.
The Russian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Mihail Galuzin, military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Aleksander Fomin, Anadolu reported.
Ukraine’s team was led by Defense Minister Rustem Umérov and included Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Security Services Chief Oleksander Poklad, and Deputy Intelligence Head Oleg Lugovski. EFE iut
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