Negotiations in Istanbul 2025: Putin will refuse to meet with Zelensky - isw

To spread: the authorities in Russia in every possible way shows the reluctance to negotiate with Ukraine, despite the invitation of its President Vladimir Zelensky to meet May 15 in Istanbul. This is stated in the analytical construction of the American Institute for War Study (ISW). As an example, the analyst is given a statement by the Deputy Speaker of the Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev that the invitation of Zelensky is a "pure performance and comedy".

According to the official, meetings at a high level are not organized in such a difficult situation. Zelensky, according to him, wants to accuse Russia of lack of interest in negotiations in Ukraine. The deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chep also doubted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would go to negotiations in Istanbul. Kremlin officials did not formally respond to Zelensky's invitation to visit Ukraine.

However, lower -level statements indicate that Putin may ignore the visit to Turkey. "Putin has made considerable efforts to prepare Russian society for a long -term war," the ISW said. Moscow is also actively promoting the narrative about the allegedly illegitimacy of Zelensky and his government to justify the refusal of the Russian Federation to participate in negotiations with Ukraine.

"Any long-term peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should include the recognition of Russia's legitimacy by the Ukrainian President, the Government and the Constitution of the country," experts say. We will remind, the Russian side demanded from Ukraine to abandon ultimatums in negotiations in Istanbul. Any negotiations on Ukraine in 2025 will be "slightly different", the Russian Federation said. Focus found out how realistic to organize Putin and Zelensky's meeting in Istanbul.