Zelensky aide calls Istanbul peace talks with Russia a ‘performance’ as Kyiv expresses frustration

Ukraine is dissatisfied with the outcome of peace talks held with Russia in Istanbul on May 16, calling the meeting a staged performance aimed at stalling the negotiation process, a senior Ukrainian official said.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, told Rzeczpospolita that Russia sent a low-level delegation to the talks with no mandate to negotiate and failed to present any realistic proposal for a ceasefire.

“Putin staged the meeting to humiliate Ukraine and to appear engaged in diplomacy, while continuing active military operations,” Podolyak said, accusing Moscow of disregarding Western calls for de-escalation.

He said the Russian side repeated demands Kyiv considers unacceptable, including territorial concessions, military neutrality, and halting arms supplies from the West.

Despite the lack of progress, Ukraine joined the talks at the request of the United States and its European allies. Podolyak emphasized that meaningful peace negotiations can only begin once a ceasefire is in place.