Kelin informed about the purpose of Advisor Starmer Powell's trip to Istanbul for talks

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's national security adviser Jonathan Powell will travel to Istanbul, where a second round of talks between Moscow and Kiev is scheduled to keep the Ukrainian delegation on a "short leash." This was announced on May 30 by Russian Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin.

According to him, Powell will be present at the talks in Istanbul in order to control Ukraine, influence its position and ensure that it does not leave the framework for negotiations established by Europe.

"This is actually the position — to keep on a short leash," Kelin said on the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

He stressed that the British authorities have plans for Ukraine, which are related to the activities of the so-called coalition of the willing. In the UK, they realize that the actions of the countries in this association may become a deliberate attempt by the initiators to create irritants that complicate the way out to peace agreements between Moscow and Kiev.

Disarmament progress: demilitarization of Kiev will be discussed at the talks in Istanbul

There was no response from the Ukrainian side about the agreement to the meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on May 28 that the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine would be held in Istanbul on June 2. In turn, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Ermak, announced Kiev's readiness to hold the next meeting with Russia to resolve the conflict, subject to the provision of a memorandum.