Russia is pressing NATO to withdraw its open door policy for Ukraine and to install a pro Russian proxy government in Kyiv. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Moscow insists on seeing its pre war demands met, despite claims from the Kremlin that it seeks genuine negotiations for peace.
In the run up to talks in Istanbul, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov reiterated that any resolution of the conflict must include regime change in Kyiv and curbs on Western support. He told reporters that addressing the “root causes” of the war would require Ukraine to accept Moscow’s terms, which analysts say is a thinly veiled call for denazification and the establishment of a government aligned with Kremlin interests.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not attend the Istanbul discussions on 15 May. Instead, the delegation will be led by his aide Vladimir Medinsky. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, sceptical of the entire process, also declined to join the talks, even as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Turkey to represent Washington.
Observers noted that dropping new US sanctions on Moscow appeared to hinge on the prospect of negotiations, but critics argue that such concessions only embolden Russia’s demands and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
