Low-level delegation shows kremlin’s disinterest in good faith talks – ISW

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) say that russia’s decision to send a low-level delegation to a new round of peace talks in Istanbul shows russia’s disinterest in good faith talks.

This is stated in the latest issue of an analytical note from ISW experts.

“Russian officials continue to signal the Kremlin’s uncompromising position ahead of the proposed talks in Istanbul on June 2, hinting that the upcoming Istanbul meeting is unlikely to yield significant results in support of a lasting peace in Ukraine,” the report states.

Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, told a UN Security Council meeting on May 30 that russia was ready to fight Ukraine for as long as necessary, and that Ukraine could either accept peace, likely on russia's terms, or face inevitable defeat on the battlefield.

Nebenzya also said that the United States had recently "opened its eyes" to the "root causes" of the war in Ukraine, and reiterated russian leader vladimir putin's demands for the West to stop arming Ukraine and halt efforts to build up forces as a precondition for a ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on May 29 that the russian delegation at the proposed bilateral talks in Istanbul on June 2 would be "the same" as the russian delegation at the previous talks held in Istanbul on May 15 and 16.

"The decision by Russian officials to reiterate long-standing demands and send the same low-level delegation to the next meeting in Istanbul suggests that Russia remains uninterested in engaging in good faith negotiations.

ISW continues to assess that Russia remains committed to dragging out peace talks to support continued offensive operations in Ukraine and to obtain additional concessions from Ukraine and the West," the report states.