Photo: X/clashreport
Ukraine was prepared for Russia’s attempts to impose unacceptable terms of peace. During the talks in Istanbul, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, voiced a list of Kremlin demands, which were published by the international analytical publication Clash Report on 16 May.
The conditions include Ukraine’s neutrality, recognition of the Russian occupation, refusal of reparations, restriction of national self-identification rights and withdrawal of the Armed Forces from Ukrainian territories that Russia considers its own.
The Kremlin’s demands have been made public:
- Ukraine’s neutral status: no foreign troops and no weapons of mass destruction.
- Waiver of reparations: a mutual waiver of claims for damages.
- “Rights” of Russian speakers: stop “nationalist propaganda” and adopt European standards for minorities.
- Recognition of the occupation: Russia demands that Ukraine does not deny the “Russian” status of five regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea.
- Ceasefire: Ukraine must withdraw from all occupied territories.
Officially, Ukraine has not yet made public its reaction to these conditions, but diplomatic sources indicate that Kyiv will not agree to surrender under the guise of negotiations. So far, neither side has confirmed the final list of ceasefire conditions.
