Russia's Zakharova slams Ukrainian claims over Istanbul talks language use

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused Ukrainian officials of misrepresenting the language used by their delegation during peace talks with Russia held in Istanbul.

In a statement on her official Telegram channel, Zakharova directly contradicted Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia, who had claimed that the Ukrainian team communicated in Ukrainian and English with the help of an interpreter, Caliber.Az reports.

“They’re lying, as always. They read the opening statement in English, then switched to Russian. How pathetic,” Zakharova wrote, emphasising that Russian was the main language used by the Ukrainian delegation after initial formalities.

The diplomatic exchange follows a round of negotiations held in Istanbul on May 16 between representatives of Moscow and Kyiv, aimed at easing tensions and exploring options for a potential ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. Following the meeting, the two sides agreed to several key points: a prisoner exchange on a “1,000 for 1,000” basis, a commitment to draft detailed visions for a ceasefire, and the continuation of dialogue.

Russian presidential aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, revealed that Ukraine had requested direct talks between the presidents of both countries—an initiative Russia acknowledged but did not immediately respond to.

The next steps in the negotiation process remain unclear, but both sides have indicated a willingness to continue discussions—despite the increasingly public nature of their disagreements.

By Khagan Isayev