Zakharova announced the failure of Zelensky's attempt to disrupt the talks in Istanbul

An attempt by the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, to disrupt the negotiations in Istanbul has failed. This was announced on May 20 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

"The residents of Bankova naively believed that postponing the negotiations could force Moscow to abandon them. As a result, the performance staged by Zelensky failed miserably," she said.

According to Zakharova, the president of Ukraine could not decide on Kiev's participation in the negotiations. He consulted with European leaders who did not want to allow the resumption of direct dialogue with the Russian Federation.

Zakharova also stressed that Russia is ready to continue to maintain contacts with Ukraine, pointing to the beginning of an important decision-making moment for Kiev. She also said that the initiative to exchange prisoners in accordance with the formula "1000" for "1000" belonged to the Russian Federation.

"This was a Russian initiative, which was proposed by the head of the Russian delegation, on the exchange of detainees, so let no one try to take credit for it from any other side," she said.

The opposite situation: a new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine may take place again in Istanbul

At the same time, Moscow and Washington are discussing a meeting between the two presidents on how the dialogue on conflict resolution will develop.

The talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul took place on May 16. The Russian delegation consisted 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.

As a result of the negotiations, the delegations of Russia and Ukraine agreed to present their vision of a cease-fire and to exchange prisoners of war in the "1000 by 1000" format.