Britain announced Russia's victory at the Istanbul talks

Russia has achieved significant success in negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. This opinion was expressed on May 17 by British analyst Alexander Mercuris on his YouTube channel.

"There is no doubt who won this complex, confusing game of diplomatic poker. The winner was [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Russia," the expert noted.

According to him, the ceasefire initially proposed by Kiev could potentially be used to strengthen the Kiev regime. However, Ukraine failed to achieve such an outcome.

Step at the meeting: the results of the first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in three years

The first round of contacts took place in Istanbul — what's next

On May 16, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations at the talks agreed to present their vision of a cease-fire and to exchange prisoners of war in the "1000 by 1000" format.

The meeting was organized at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. The Russian Federation was represented by a delegation consisting of Vladimir Medinsky, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Kostyukov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Alexander Fomin, Deputy Minister of Defense.