Russia aims for lasting peace with Ukraine

Investing.com -- The head of Russia’s delegation at peace talks on Ukraine in Turkey, Vladimir Medinsky, stated on Thursday that Moscow’s objective is to secure a long-lasting peace with Kyiv. The strategy involves finding common ground and eliminating the causes of the conflict.

Medinsky, who also participated in the unsuccessful peace talks in 2022, views the upcoming discussions in Istanbul as a continuation of those previous negotiations. "We consider these negotiations as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which, unfortunately, was interrupted by the Ukrainian side three years ago," he informed reporters in Istanbul.

In response, Kyiv has stated that the conditions Russia proposed in 2022 were unacceptable and would have resulted in a surrender.

Medinsky emphasized the delegation’s commitment to constructive dialogue, seeking potential solutions and common ground. "The task of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is sooner or later to achieve long-term peace by eliminating the basic root causes of the conflict," he said.

The peace talks began in Belarus in February 2022, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. The discussions later moved to Istanbul and a draft known as the "Istanbul Communique" was developed, outlining a potential settlement framework.

The 2022 discussions ended in May. However, Russian officials have consistently maintained that a resolution could be achieved following the Istanbul Communique’s guidelines. Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, has also suggested the 2022 draft as a potential roadmap for future peace.

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