Kremlin’s top negotiator threatens Ukraine with more territorial losses if Putin’s ‘compromises’ are rejected
Vladimir Medinsky, aide to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin
and head of the Russian delegation in negotiations, warned that Ukraine could
lose even more territory if it refuses to accept Moscow’s so-called
“compromises,” The
Wall Street Journal reported on June 10.
“We want peace. But if Ukraine continues to act in the
interests of others, we will simply be forced to respond,” Medinsky said in an
interview.
He claimed that waging a prolonged war with Russia is
supposedly “impossible,” citing as an example Russia’s 21-year war with Sweden
in the 18th century.
However, WSJ noted that some of Russia’s long wars have
ended in failure — most notably its nearly decade-long invasion of Afghanistan,
which drained Moscow’s resources and ended with a troop withdrawal in 1989.
That prolonged conflict, which ended in defeat, helped accelerate the collapse
of the Soviet Union.
Istanbul talks on June 2 — details
On June 2, Ukrainian and Russian delegations held a second
round of talks in Istanbul, which, according to Russian media, lasted more than
an hour.
As during the first round on May 16, the Russian delegation
was led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem
Umerov headed Ukraine’s delegation.
After the talks, Umerov told reporters the sides had only
agreed on a new stage of prisoner exchanges. Ukraine also proposed a full
ceasefire and a leaders’ summit. The Ukrainian delegation is awaiting Russia’s
response on the proposed summit by the end of the month.
The two sides will have a week to review the memorandums
exchanged during the talks, Umerov added. Russia had refused to hand Ukraine
its draft proposal before the Istanbul meeting. Ukraine, by contrast, submitted
its memorandum in advance.
On June 3, ABC News reported that U.S. officials were
disappointed but unsurprised by Russia’s ceasefire demands during the talks.
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