What Major Issues Will Russia Tackle in Talks with Ukraine?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The upcoming talks in Turkey are crucial for addressing significant political and technical issues.
- President Putin has invited Ukraine to resume direct negotiations.
- US officials will be present, indicating potential international involvement.
- The outcome of these talks could greatly influence the ongoing conflict.
- Both parties have expressed readiness to engage, but conditions vary.
Moscow, May 14 (NationPress) - Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov stated on Wednesday that the Russian delegation is poised to tackle both political and technical issues during the forthcoming discussions with Ukraine in Turkey on Thursday.
"The delegation requires addressing both political matters and, I would say, a multitude of technical issues. Consequently, the composition of the delegation will be formulated based on this need," the official remarked while speaking to a reporter from a Russian television network.
Ushakov also highlighted that Moscow's intention is to revive the 2022 negotiations that were halted by Ukraine under the influence of Western allies and partners. However, he refrained from confirming whether he is part of the Russian delegation.
During a press briefing at the Kremlin on May 11, President Putin invited the Kyiv authorities to recommence direct negotiations that were suspended in 2022, with no preconditions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other American officials will participate in the Istanbul talks regarding Ukraine.
“Marco [Rubio] is headed there, along with others, and we hope to achieve a resolution,” he stated at a bilateral investment forum in Saudi Arabia.
“Importantly, discussions are scheduled in Turkey later this week, likely on Thursday, and they could yield favorable outcomes,” the US leader noted, without providing further details.
A White House spokesperson confirmed that Rubio will be joined by the President's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.
On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov indicated that Russia and the US continue to engage with each other regarding Ukraine, though they are not coordinating on the upcoming Istanbul discussions.
“The Americans are fully aware of our stance. We maintain communication; however, 'coordination' is not the appropriate term in this instance,” the minister was quoted by the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
President Putin suggested initiating dialogues with Ukraine on May 15 in Istanbul. He reiterated that Russia had declared ceasefires multiple times, yet all—including the recent three-day truce for the Victory Day celebrations—were breached by the Kyiv regime.
Conversely, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed on Monday his readiness to engage in talks with President Putin to resolve the ongoing conflict between their nations. This statement followed President Trump urging Ukraine to promptly accept the negotiations proposed by the Russian leader. Prior to this, Zelensky had conditioned discussions with Moscow on a 30-day ceasefire.