Kosachev appreciated the upcoming talks in Istanbul

Russia and Ukraine can make progress in the settlement at a meeting in Istanbul if Kiev refuses ultimatums, Konstantin Kosachev, Vice Speaker of the Federation Council, told Izvestia.

"We suggest that the Kiev authorities resume negotiations"

Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to start a direct dialogue with Ukraine on May 15.

"There was the experience of the first Istanbul, and these negotiations were moving forward until some point. It is known that mutual understanding was reached on a large number of positions, and the document was initialed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation before it was pulled back. <...> But if the Ukrainian delegation appears at these talks with a mandate to abandon some ultimatums and seek common ground, I am sure that we could move forward. We are even further ahead than it was done in March 2022," the senator said.

There is a sense in such negotiations, but already in the conditions of Istanbul 2.0: over these three years, the situation on the line of contact has changed dramatically, Kosachev stressed.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed resuming negotiations in Istanbul on May 15.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Season two: Can Russia and Ukraine move closer to peace at a meeting in Turkey