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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has stated that Thursday's negotiations in Istanbul will focus on achieving a sustainable settlement and addressing territorial concerns in Ukraine, including recognition of what Russia considers "new territories," according to a statement made after meeting with Turkish Ambassador Tanju Bilgic in Moscow on Tuesday.
"It is necessary to ensure recognition of the realities 'on the ground' in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, including the entry of new territories into Russia," Ryabkov emphasized, as reported by Anadolu Agency (AA).
The deputy minister indicated that while Russia is prepared to engage in "responsible negotiations," Moscow doubts the other party's ability to reach an agreement, pointing to what he described as Kyiv's "inability to negotiate" as one of the main obstacles in the process.
Ryabkov outlined that the agenda would address what Russia considers fundamental issues that have been consistently raised in recent months.
"The topics are the same that we have repeatedly spoken about and that have been on the agenda all this time: how to ensure a reliable, sustainable settlement of the situation, primarily addressing the original sources of this conflict, solving issues related to the denazification of the Kyiv regime, ensuring recognition of the realities that have recently developed on the ground," the deputy minister explained.
When asked about potential outcomes of the talks, Ryabkov declined to make predictions, stating it was "premature to forecast" results.
The Russian official highlighted Moscow's "intensive dialogue" with Ankara as one of the key reasons for selecting Istanbul as the venue for the negotiations.
"We discuss issues related to international security and cooperation on international platforms with our colleagues from Türkiye, including the respected ambassador (of Türkiye to Moscow, Tanju Bilgic). We maintain the most intensive dialogue with Türkiye. The country is key in many respects, we understand this," Ryabkov stated.
The initiative for unconditional talks in Istanbul was proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference in Moscow on Sunday. According to Ryabkov, Putin noted that Russia had previously declared several cease-fires that were "consistently violated by the Kyiv regime," including a three-day truce established during the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Türkiye's readiness to host the meeting on Thursday in Istanbul during a subsequent phone conversation with Putin.
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