Kremlin signals negotiating position shift
Dmitry Peskov (Photo: REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov)
The demands
Russia presented Ukraine with during the Istanbul talks in early 2022, and has
been referring back to in all subsequent peace negotiations, are “no longer
relevant,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on March 11.
According to a report by Russian state propaganda agency TASS, Peskov explicitly said that Moscow no longer adheres to the “Istanbul principles,” adding they “do not reflect the situation.”
“Reality has changed,” he said.
The Kremlin kept reiterating its Istanbul demands at every turn, including during talks with the United States when U.S. President Donald Trump was eager to end the Russo–Ukrainian war on Moscow-favored terms.
TASS itself suggested Peskov’s comment may signal a shift in Russia’s negotiating stance. The propaganda agency noted that in June 2025 Russia circulated a memorandum of ultimatums for ending the war that repeated many of the terms first discussed in Istanbul in 2022.
The next round of trilateral Ukraine–U.S.–Russia talks was
supposed to take place on March 10–11, but was postponed on Washington’s
request, given the administration’s preoccupation with the war in the Middle
East.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
