Western media reported what were claimed to be Russia’s demands presented to Ukraine when delegations from both sides met for two hours on Friday in Istanbul, marking the first direct talks between Kiev and Moscow since 2022.
According to a report by Bloomberg on Friday, the demands listed by Russia were:
Ukraine must adopt a neutral status without the presence of foreign troops or weapons of mass destruction on its territory
Ukraine must renounce its demands for reparations from Moscow
Ukraine must recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions
Protection of the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine
The delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly told the Ukrainian side that Putin would only agree to a ceasefire after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk still under Kiev’s control.
While no Russian sources or officials have confirmed the full nature of the listed demands, the reports align with statements made by Russian officials over the last year, including Putin himself. On June 14 of last year, while addressing members of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Putin outlined similar conditions for an immediate ceasefire, including Ukraine adopting a neutral status and withdrawing from the four contested regions.
Russian media has confirmed parts of these reports, specifically the demand for Ukrainian troop withdrawal. Both Russian and Ukrainian sources indicated that when Ukraine rejected the proposal, the Russian delegation warned that their future demands would include even more territory.
Currently, Russia also occupies parts of the Sumy and Kharkov regions and is reportedly poised to enter the Dnipropetrovsk region. Intense fighting is ongoing along the administrative borders of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk.
While Western media outlets characterize these as "maximalist demands," the growing success of Russia’s current offensive on the front lines suggests that Moscow’s conditions may harden further over time.
In a deal that was nearly reached in Istanbul in March 2022, Ukraine would not have formally ceded any territory and was reportedly on track to regain Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in proposed deal. However, according to Russian, Ukrainian, and American sources, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson persuaded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to abandon the agreement, promising that Western countries would provide the weapons and support needed for a military victory.