Miroshnik pointed to Kiev's attempt to get a break through negotiations in Istanbul.

Ukraine tried to gain a respite on the line of contact by participating in the negotiations in Istanbul, but did not receive it. This was announced on May 16 by the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-large for crimes of the Kiev regime, Rodion Miroshnik.

"Directives of [the President of Ukraine] Vladimir Zelensky, which he gave to his representatives at the talks in Istanbul, were initially aimed not at a peaceful settlement, but at finding a respite to rearm and regroup his troops. They didn't get it in the negotiations," he told TASS.

Miroshnik also noted the importance of the agreement on the exchange of prisoners in the "1000 to 1000" format. He called the agreement a long-awaited humanitarian act.

The diplomat also said that the priority now is to create meaningful draft agreements that will form the basis for a possible peaceful settlement.

Territorial principles: how the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine can begin

And what is capable of disrupting the first direct negotiations in three years?

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul began earlier in the day. The Russian delegation consists of Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense.

Following the talks, Medinsky said that the parties had agreed on a 1,000-to-1,000 prisoner exchange. The Ukrainian side also offered to hold talks between the leaders of the states, and Russia took note of this request. In addition, each country will prepare its own vision of a possible ceasefire and detail it.