**Russia Demands Ukraine Surrender Territories in Istanbul Talks**
In a shocking turn of events, Russia has issued a list of sweeping demands to Ukraine during negotiations held in Istanbul. The ultimatum includes the full handover of four occupied regions and formal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.
If these conditions are not met, Russian officials have warned that they would seek to seize two more regions – Kharkiv and Sumy. This move has been met with fierce resistance from Ukraine, which had entered the talks calling for a 30-day ceasefire and proposing a direct meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
**More Land or More War**
According to reports, Russia’s demands were first revealed by The Economist journalist Oliver Carroll and later confirmed by Russian state media host Yevgeny Popov. One Russian negotiator was quoted as saying that failure to accept the current terms would lead to future claims over six regions. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko added that Moscow also pushed for a “security zone” in Sumy Oblast.
Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky framed the demands as a continuation of earlier proposals from the war’s outset, saying terms have become “harsher” since the first rounds of talks in Gomel and Istanbul. However, Ukrainian officials flatly rejected any transfer of territory beyond what Russia currently controls.
**A Potential Ceasefire on the Table**
Both sides acknowledged that a potential ceasefire was on the table during the negotiations. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said Kyiv requested a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. Medinsky confirmed that Moscow had “taken note” of the proposal. Further ceasefire negotiations are expected, pending each side’s presentation of their terms.
**Russia Prepared for Long Fight**
In an interview with Russian state TV host Yevgeny Popov, Vladimir Medinsky dismissed calls for a ceasefire ahead of substantive negotiations, stating that such proposals come from people “who don’t know history.” He cited several historical examples – including the Vietnam War – to support his point.
Russian political analyst Vladimir Frolov has previously written that Moscow is planning to conduct direct negotiations with both Ukraine and the United States based on the model of US-North Vietnam talks in the early 1970s. Those talks, supported by the Soviet Union, took place during ongoing hostilities and ultimately culminated in the US evacuation from Saigon on 30 April 1975.
**Sanctions on the Table**
Following the talks, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine held urgent consultations with US President Donald Trump. Reports suggest European countries are considering stricter sanctions against Russia. The US has not yet issued an official response.
