Russia Demands Ukrainian Territorial Withdrawal at Istanbul Peace Talks

The recent peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended without a ceasefire agreement, as Russia demanded Ukraine withdraw troops from all contested regions, including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Crimea, before any ceasefire could be considered. These demands, which also included international recognition of these territories as Russian and Ukraine's neutrality, went beyond a U.S.-proposed draft deal and were deemed unacceptable by Ukrainian officials. Despite agreeing to a prisoner exchange, the talks saw no substantive progress, with Ukraine's leadership and Western allies condemning Russia's maximalist stance and reiterating the need for tough sanctions should Russia continue rejecting a ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend in person, sending a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticized Moscow's seriousness and accused Putin of aiming to prolong the war. Communication challenges persisted as both sides relied on interpreters, and Russia rejected U.S. mediation, further complicating negotiation dynamics. The talks highlighted ongoing deep divisions and Russia's strategy of issuing maximalist demands while blaming others for the lack of progress.