Moscow sees no connection between the bilateral Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2 and the arrival of official representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France there. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commenting on the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg.
"We have seen reports about the statements of the Turkish Foreign Minister H.Fidana. As far as we understand, he advocated a more flexible approach of the Russian side in the context of the upcoming negotiations, otherwise Russia may be at a disadvantage," Zakharova said in a comment.
Previously in In Kyiv, the Turkish Foreign Minister said: "If Russia fails to demonstrate a similar level of compliance [to Ukraine], it may find itself in a difficult position — both from the point of view of the American position and in the eyes of the international community, which advocates a ceasefire." According to him, the initiative of US President Donald Trump on an immediate ceasefire has become a determining factor for other participants in the negotiation process. Fidan noted that both Ukraine and European countries "showed flexibility and unexpectedly agreed with the American approach."
"K. Kellogg's remarks about the possibility of official representatives of the mentioned countries [the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France] appearing in Istanbul on June 2 for some quadrilateral discussions on the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations were also recorded. In parallel, against the background of the ongoing visit of H.Speculation began to appear on the way to Kiev that allegedly Turkey alone as an intermediary is not enough and therefore it needs "helpers,"" Zakharova said.
The diplomat noted that the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was supported by US President Donald Trump, provides for the launch of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in a bilateral format. Such negotiations were, as is known, resumed after a three-year break in Istanbul on May 16, she recalled.
"Of course, we are deeply grateful to our Turkish friends for their hospitality and the creation of the necessary comfortable working conditions by them as hosts of the negotiation platform. However, there is no question of Turkish or anyone else's mediation," the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
She confirmed that the Russian delegation headed by the Assistant to the President of Russia Vladimir Medinsky will be in Istanbul on June 2 for the second round of negotiations. She will arrive with a draft memorandum and other proposals for a ceasefire.
"As for the words of Special Envoy K. Kellogg, Russia, as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, respects the universal human rights principle of freedom of movement. Everyone can travel wherever they want. However, we do not see a connection between the movements of representatives of these four states and the bilateral Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul," the diplomat concluded.
EADaily adds that Ankara is promoting an initiative to involve Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations mediated by the United States. Today in In Kyiv, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the meeting of the presidents of the United States, Russia and Ukraine may be held in Istanbul "under the leadership" of Erdogan. "We sincerely believe that the first and second rounds of direct negotiations [between Russia and Ukraine] in A meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky under the leadership of Erdogan may follow in Istanbul," said Fidan, who held a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. A few days before the visit to Kiev, the Turkish Foreign Minister visited Moscow.
Press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is ready for a meeting with Zelensky, but it can take place only after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have reached agreements on the conditions for ending the war. "Putin has repeatedly said that he is fundamentally in favor of contacts at the highest level, of course, they are in demand, but they must be prepared," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.