Ukraine’s top diplomat details Russian tactics, stalled peace talks

Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister and presidential peace negotiator, Sergiy Kyslytsya, has provided a detailed account of Russia’s approach during the stalled peace talks in Istanbul, describing efforts to provoke Ukraine and create the illusion of progress while refusing substantive negotiations.

Speaking to the press, Kyslytsya said Russian negotiators “ignored all attempts to discuss concrete steps towards peace, denied Ukraine had a separate identity, and offered to set up WhatsApp groups to give the illusion of progress.” He added that the delegation, led by President Putin’s envoy Vladimir Medinsky, brought dossiers on each Ukrainian participant and frequently made provocative and hostile remarks, The Times reports.

“They know very well the background of every one of us and sometimes they do say provocative things and quite nasty,” Kyslytsya said, explaining that the tactic aimed to distract and anger the Ukrainian team so they could be blamed if talks collapsed.

Kyslytsya recalled that Medinsky opened the talks with a lecture distorting the history of Ukraine and Russia, concluding, “we, the Russians are killing Russians.” Despite the provocations, the Ukrainian delegation focused on its agenda. “We would not engage in discussing the authenticity of the historical accounts. Then we would go straight to our agenda,” he said.

The deputy minister emphasized that Russian negotiators refused to discuss a meaningful ceasefire, agreeing only to a two-hour truce to retrieve the dead. “We never reached the point of figuring out common ground,” he said.

Kyslytsya also highlighted his work on economic sanctions and energy security, noting a key achievement in October when the Trump administration sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil. He outlined Ukraine’s proposals for European energy cooperation, including using the country’s underground gas storage to support EU purchases of US liquefied natural gas.

Reflecting on diplomacy with the US, Kyslytsya noted cultural differences in negotiation styles, stating, “We are not in Buckingham Palace…why would you expect European pleasantries and courtesy?” He warned against the dangers of intermediaries repeating Russian talking points, recounting a confrontation with Trump negotiator Steve Witkoff in Paris.

The Istanbul talks, held on May 16, June 2, and July 23, ended without substantive progress, leaving Ukraine focused on mobilizing international partners to pressure Putin into direct negotiations.

By Vafa Guliyeva