Moscow Abandons Istanbul Demands, Kremlin Says “Reality Has Completely Changed”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the 2022 Istanbul peace agreements are no longer relevant to potential peace negotiations with Ukraine, NV.UA reported on March 11, citing Russian media.

Speaking to reporters on March 11, Peskov said the previous frameworks “do not correspond to the situation.” When asked directly if the Kremlin remains committed to the so-called “Istanbul principles"—a position Russian officials frequently reiterated throughout 2025—Peskov gave a negative response, stating simply that “reality has completely changed.”

The Russian independent outlet Agentstvo noted that Peskov’s comments represent a clear departure from Moscow’s established rhetoric. Previously, Russian leadership consistently insisted that any potential peace agreement could only be built upon the foundations discussed during the early spring 2022 talks in Türkiye.

This rhetorical shift follows earlier diplomatic ultimatums from Moscow. In June 2025, Russia circulated a memorandum outlining its conditions for ending the war. The demands in that document largely mirrored the terms initially presented to Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul.

Despite Moscow’s frequent references to the 2022 Istanbul talks as a missed opportunity for peace, the actual documents discussed during those negotiations amounted to a demand for full Ukrainian capitulation.

The proposed agreements were designed to leave Kyiv disarmed, internationally isolated, and highly vulnerable to future Russian aggression.

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According to a draft treaty from the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia’s conditions extended far beyond military neutrality. The Kremlin demanded that Ukraine reduce its armed forces to a mere 50,000 troops—five times smaller than its pre-2022 military—and accept a strict ban on developing or deploying missile systems with a range over 250 kilometers.

Furthermore, the draft required Kyiv to recognize the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “republics,” grant Russian official state language status, and lift all international sanctions, effectively dismantling Ukraine’s sovereignty under the guise of a peace settlement.

Peskov’s public dismissal of the 2022 Istanbul framework coincides closely with the anticipated resumption of trilateral peace negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.

A new round of talks was tentatively scheduled to take place this week, but has been temporarily postponed as Washington redirects its immediate focus to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously confirmed that the discussions are now expected to be held next week in either Switzerland or Türkiye.

As Moscow signals a change in its diplomatic baseline and potentially prepares new demands, Kyiv continues to insist that any future settlement cannot compromise Ukrainian sovereignty, with Zelenskyy emphasizing that territorial issues can only be resolved through direct talks at the highest political level.

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