Moscow, June 23 (QNA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is prepared to hold peace talks with Ukraine based on the 2022 Istanbul agreements.
In remarks delivered Tuesday, Putin stressed that any peace negotiations with Ukraine must be conducted based on the realities on the ground.
“Russia, as has been said many times, is ready for peace negotiations with Ukraine, ready on the basis of the agreements that were reached in Istanbul [in the spring of 2022] and, I would remind you, were initialed at the time by the Ukrainian delegation, which means everything suited them,” Putin said.
He added that he sees no reason for Moscow to abandon those agreements.
The Russian president accused Kyiv of carrying out strikes on civilian facilities in Russia in an attempt to “create an illusion of strength” and resume negotiations from a position of power. He asserted that Ukrainian attacks have no impact on developments on the battlefield.
Istanbul hosted talks between Russia and Ukraine in the spring of 2022, weeks after the outbreak of the war between the two countries. During those negotiations, the sides discussed a draft agreement aimed at ending the conflict.