The Kremlin has made it clear that no one should hope for any “miracles” from the upcoming talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials. The two sides are scheduled to meet on Wednesday evening in Istanbul, Turkey, for the third round of direct negotiations.

Russia Steps Up War Efforts While Sending Low-Ranked Delegate

This round of talks comes at a tense time. Russia has increased its aerial bombardments and ground operations across Ukraine. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin has chosen not to attend or send any top officials. Instead, he has appointed Vladimir Medinsky, a relatively junior official, to lead the Russian delegation.
On the other side, Ukraine will be represented by Rustem Umerov. He recently served as defence minister and now works as the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council.

Past Talks Showed Russia’s Rigid Demands

In the previous round of talks, both countries presented their terms to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made some concessions. However, President Putin repeated his tough demands. His stance showed that he was not looking for peace but rather for Ukraine to surrender.

Kremlin: ‘No Breakthrough in the Category of Miracles’

Before the talks began, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned people not to expect a quick or dramatic solution. “No one expects an easy road. It will be very difficult,” Peskov said. He explained that Russia does not plan to compromise. Instead, the country will push for its own goals. “We intend to pursue our interests, we intend to ensure our interests and fulfil the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning,” he said. Peskov also refused to give a timeline for how long the peace talks might take.

Focus Likely on Small Agreements, Not Major Progress

Despite their differences, Ukraine and Russia may still try to agree on smaller issues. These may include exchanging prisoners of war, returning dead soldiers, or addressing humanitarian matters that could help leaders politically in their own countries.
President Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian side would push for “the return of prisoners of war, the return of the children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders’ meeting.”

Domestic Crisis Weakens Ukraine’s Position

At the same time, Ukraine is facing domestic unrest. A new law backed by Zelenskyy’s party has sparked protests across the country. The law removes key powers from Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies. Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets, especially near the presidential office in Kyiv, accusing the government of weakening transparency.

Zelenskyy has defended the move, claiming it is needed to prevent Russian spies from infiltrating these agencies. But many Ukrainians, civil society groups, and even the European Union have raised concerns. Observers believe this controversial law could slow down Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.