Ukraine rebuffs Russia's claims over talks, claiming Putin ‘does not seek peace’

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine on Friday dismissed Russia’s claims it is blocking peace talks, claiming the latter has shown no intent to end the war.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukrainian representatives traveled to Istanbul several times this year for direct talks with their Russian counterparts.

“Regrettably, what they saw there was a group of low-level people putting forward the same old ultimatums and having no power to resolve issues,” Tykhyi said. “The reason is simple: Putin does not seek peace, he seeks ways to continue the war.”

Responding to remarks by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, who said Moscow is ready for direct talks but that Kyiv lacks “political will,”Tykhyi urged the Kremlin to stop its "aggression."

“Tell your boss to end the war. When he is ready—we can hold a leaders’ meeting and agree on a ceasefire,” he added.

Türkiye held at least three rounds of renewed Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul this year, which led to prisoner swaps and exchange of memorandums outlining the visions to end the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart Donald Trump later met in Alaska on Aug. 15, and a new summit was planned in Budapest but was canceled.

While Ukraine and the EU have called for a ceasefire before any meaningful negotiations, a position also embraced by the US; Russia argues that the root causes of the conflict running since 2022 should be addressed before any truce.