5/17/2025–|Last update: 5/17/202503:07 (Mecca time)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Omarouf said on Friday that his country believes that the next step after Istanbul’s tripartite negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey should be a meeting at the leadership level.
During a press conference in Istanbul – Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski was looking to hold high -level meetings during this round of negotiations.
“I think our next step will be to organize meetings at the leadership level, and this is what we are currently being.”
Amorov emphasized that Ukraine wants peace, saying, “We have the power and ability to continue fighting, but in the end this war must be ended.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eyx2joxbkq
Good talks
For his part, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kisletsia described today’s discussions as “good”, noting that what happened was a week of working with Türkiye, the United States and European Ukraine partners.
He stressed the importance of continuing to pressure Russia, saying, “If the leaders can meet, there are many files that can be resolved.”
“Given the complexities of issues and the nature of the Russian Federation, we believe that many files can only be resolved through Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, and for this we are eagerly awaiting holding a summit at the earliest time.”
Kisletsia indicated that the agreement with the Russian side to exchange 1,000 prisoners is a positive development.
In turn, the Vice -President of the General Intelligence Service at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Vadim Skittesky, said that one of the most prominent files of negotiations was the return of prisoners from both sides to their homelands.
“Starting today, we will start working to prepare the lists of people who will be exchanged, and cooperating with the Russian side normally,” he added.
He stressed his country’s commitment to the return of all family citizens, saying, “We are waiting for them, we will receive them with joy, and we will continue to work with the Russian side.”
In response to the questions of the journalists, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Khurati Takhi, said that the Russian delegation “raised a set of things that we consider unacceptable.”
“We have a long experience in dealing with the Russians in various types of negotiations, and I can say that our delegation knows how to deal with everything that the other side might be. We have dealt with these proposals quietly, and we explained our primary position and our adherence to our path.”
Takhi expressed his gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the role of Ankara in providing a platform for peace efforts, saying, “We appreciate Türkiye’s participation and its influential role as a serious power that is actually capable of contributing to ending the war.”
On the details of the negotiations, Takhi explained, “Today we held important discussions about bilateral relations between Türkiye and Ukraine, as well as on efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine,” Takhi explained.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vezkescnjtg
Coordination of efforts
With regard to communicating with Washington, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman explained that his country is “in good contact with the American side, we exchange opinions and positions, and we are working to coordinate efforts.”
Takhi said that Moscow has not yet responded to the proposal of Ukraine with a ceasefire, describing this as “unacceptable.”
“Our delegation was aware that the Russian response might not come, and therefore we have preserved our calmness and our adherence to our position. We believe that the decision of our delegation today was effective and fruitful.”
With regard to the agenda of the Ukrainian delegation, Takhi explained that President Zellinski sent the delegation to Istanbul with a clear agenda, and the first item was the unsuccessful ceasefire.
He added that pressure on Moscow should continue, and said, “In Russia, there is only one person who makes the decision, which is Putin. If you want an agreement on a ceasefire or any big files, you should negotiate with him directly.”
“For this reason, President Zellinski explained that he was ready to negotiate directly with Putin. Putin did not come here, but we discussed this because we believe that progress cannot be made without a summit at the leadership level, which also includes a ceasefire.”
It is noteworthy that, on May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions in Istanbul, asking his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to host the new round.
Erdogan stressed his country’s readiness to host negotiations to achieve a just and lasting peace, and the Ukrainian government welcomed the step.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has launched a military attack on its Ukraine neighbor, and to end it, Kiev abandons joining Western military bans, led by NATO (NATO), which Kiev considers “interference” in its affairs.
