**Russia Rejects Unconditional Ceasefire in Ukraine Talks**
A Ukrainian official has revealed that Russia’s negotiating team refused to accept an unconditional ceasefire during the recent peace talks between the two countries. The comments were made by Serhii Kyslytsia, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, who was part of the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul last week.
According to Kyslytsia, the Russian team repeatedly stated that a ceasefire was “categorically unacceptable”. This stance is a significant obstacle to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Ukrainian side had proposed an unconditional ceasefire as the next step in the peace negotiating process.
The talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators began on May 16 and concluded after less than two hours, with no agreement reached on a ceasefire. The failure to reach a consensus on this key issue is a major blow to efforts to end the conflict.
**Russia’s Stance on Ceasefire**
Kyslytsia expressed his disappointment at the Russian team’s stance, stating that he did not think their directives allowed for the possibility of reaching an agreement with Ukraine on a ceasefire. This suggests that Russia was not willing to compromise on this issue.
After the talks concluded, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Moscow has no interest in agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine. He stated that “we don’t want this anymore”, implying that Russia is committed to its current military strategy.
**Prisoner Swap the Only Agreement**
The only concrete agreement from the discussions was the arrangement of a major prisoner swap, which was completed on May 15. This development is a positive step forward, but it does little to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
**Analysis**
Russia’s refusal to accept an unconditional ceasefire is a significant hurdle to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The fact that Russia’s negotiating team was unwilling to compromise on this key issue suggests that they are committed to their current military strategy.
The failure to reach an agreement on a ceasefire raises questions about the sincerity of Russia’s intentions to negotiate a peace deal. The talks were seen as a positive development, but the lack of progress on a key issue like ceasefire is disappointing.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, it remains to be seen whether Russia will reconsider its stance on a ceasefire or continue down a path that has led to devastating consequences for both countries.
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