Medvedev: Russia seeks victory, not compromise, in Ukraine peace talks
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Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says peace talks with Ukraine aim to secure a full Russian victory, not compromise, as Moscow issues sweeping demands at Istanbul talks.
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Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, appears at a press conference in this undated photo. (AP)
Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that peace negotiations with Ukraine are not aimed at compromise but at securing Russia’s swift and complete victory in the war.
Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, dismissed the idea of a negotiated settlement, framing the Istanbul talks as a vehicle for achieving Moscow’s military and political goals.
“The Istanbul talks are not for striking a compromise peace on someone else's delusional terms but for ensuring our swift victory and the complete destruction of the neo-Nazi regime,” he said on Telegram.
Medvedev was referring to a newly issued Russian memorandum that outlined sweeping conditions for ending the conflict.
These included demands for Ukraine to cede additional territory, adopt neutral status, impose limits on the size of its armed forces, and hold fresh presidential and parliamentary elections.
The memorandum was presented during a round of peace talks held in Istanbul on Monday. The session lasted only one hour and yielded minimal progress on critical issues such as a ceasefire.
No ceasefire deal; sides agree on prisoner and body exchange
While the ceasefire demanded by Ukraine and its allies remains elusive, the two delegations did agree on humanitarian measures.
These include a new prisoner-of-war exchange and a mutual effort to recover the bodies of roughly 12,000 fallen soldiers from both sides.
In a separate comment, Medvedev warned of retaliation in response to Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian strategic bomber bases. “Retribution is inevitable,” he declared.
“Our Army is pushing forward and will continue to advance. Everything that needs to be blown up will be blown up, and those who must be eliminated will be.”
