Russian, US top officials eye progress in Istanbul peace talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio  exchanged views on the results of the Russian-Ukrainian talks held in Istanbul on May 16.

Initiated by the US side, the call held on May 17 focused on the agreements reached during the talks, particularly the exchange of prisoners of war and the mutual drafting of conditions for a potential ceasefire, Caliber.Az reports per the statement shared by the Russian ministry. 

Secretary Rubio welcomed the progress and emphasised Washington’s continued commitment to supporting efforts toward a peaceful settlement.

According to the statement, Lavrov acknowledged the role played by the United States in facilitating Kyiv’s acceptance of President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume negotiations. Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to work jointly with the US in advancing the peace process.

In the course of the conversation, some other international and regional problems were also touched upon. The interlocutors exchanged views on the continuation of Russian-American contacts.

The talks that took place in Istanbul lasted almost two hours. Russian Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who lead the Russian delegation, announced a large-scale 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange with Ukraine. According to him, Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to present their vision of a possible future ceasefire.

During the negotiations, the Ukrainian side requested a meeting of the heads of state, and the Russian Federation took note of this. Medinsky also stated Russia's readiness to continue negotiations with Ukraine.

However, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi has said that Ukraine firmly rejected a series of proposals presented by the Russian delegation, labelling them as "unacceptable".  

The talks were marked by high-profile absences. Neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nor Russian President Vladimir Putin attended, following days of uncertainty about their participation. Zelenskyy later criticised Moscow for failing to send “any real decision-makers.”

By Sabina Mammadli