Russia and Ukraine are holding their first direct bilateral talks in Constantinople today, marking the first such meeting since spring 2022. The earlier rounds of negotiations, held shortly after Russia’s invasion, failed to produce results.
President Vladimir Putin maintains maximalist demands, insisting on addressing the “root causes” of the war — namely Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, which Russia views as a threat. He also demands recognition of Russian sovereignty over four partially occupied regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) and Crimea, annexed in 2014.
Ukraine, on the other hand, rejects any territorial concessions. President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that Russia withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territory and seeks strong post-war security guarantees, including NATO membership or alternative Western military support — both of which Moscow categorically opposes.
Kyiv and its Western allies have called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations, threatening heavy sanctions otherwise. Putin, however, has so far rejected this demand, fearing it would give Ukraine time to rearm.
Despite tensions, the Kremlin has now agreed to direct talks in Constantinople — a move seen as a response to mounting diplomatic pressure. Whether this new round of negotiations will lead to a breakthrough remains uncertain.
Source: ANA-MPA, Summary by: Konstantinos Menyktas
