Ukraine considers Russia’s demands in talks unrealistic — Reuters

Russia’s demands during the talks in Istanbul were “unrealistic” and far exceeded the scope of previous discussions, Reuters reported, citing a source within Ukrainian diplomatic circles.

According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, the Russian side demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from “several areas inside Ukraine” in exchange for a ceasefire. He, too, cited a Ukrainian diplomatic source.

A Ukrainian diplomatic source told Sky News that Moscow’s demands also included other “non-starters.”

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said Russia had demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops “from all the regions it added to its constitution” — meaning Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. He added that Russia had rejected a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

The talks in Istanbul on May 16 mark the first Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in three years.