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Russia Positions Istanbul Talks as Revival of 2022 Peace Process to Address War’s “Root Causes”

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Russia Positions Istanbul Talks as Revival of 2022 Peace Process to Address War’s “Root Causes”
Russia's delegation head Vladimir Medinsky speaks to press ahead of a planned meeting between Ukrainian, American and Russian delegates in istanbul on May 15, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Russian delegation leader Vladimir Medinsky stated that direct contacts with Ukraine aim to establish a long-term peace by addressing the “root causes of the war.”

“We have all the competencies,” Medinsky said, talking to journalists in Türkiye on May 15.

He described the upcoming negotiations in Istanbul as a continuation of the peace process that was interrupted in 2022.

Negotiations in Istanbul in 2022 brought Ukraine and Russia close to a draft agreement that included Ukraine’s non-accession to NATO, reductions in its armed forces, and security guarantees from the US, UK, France, China, and Russia, according to a leaked document published by US media.

In Russian official discourse, the so-called "root causes of the war" often refer to Ukraine’s political and military alignment with the West, especially its aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. Moscow claims these moves threaten Russia’s national security and regional influence. Russia also frequently cites alleged discrimination against Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine as justification.

A central part of Russia’s narrative is the claim that its military operation aims at “denazification” of Ukraine, accusing Kyiv’s government and nationalist groups of harboring extremist and neo-Nazi elements. This claim is widely rejected by Ukraine and the international community as baseless propaganda used to legitimize the invasion.

Previously, leading European diplomats have accused Russian leader Putin of undermining negotiations with Ukraine after he announced that his aide, Vladimir Medinsky, would lead the Russian delegation to Türkiye, raising doubts about any meaningful progress toward ending the war.

President Zelenskyy stated at the airport that the level of the Russian delegation resembled a "mere facade."

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