Russia hopes Ukraine will approach the Istanbul peace talks with seriousness, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said on Friday.
Speaking at the 10th edition of the “Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era” conference, Rudenko emphasized that Moscow remains interested in a swift resolution to the conflict.
He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had reaffirmed this position by proposing, on May 10, the resumption of direct talks with Kyiv, which were suspended in spring 2022.
“The meeting held between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul allowed both sides to agree on several practical steps toward a resolution,” Rudenko said.
“We hope Ukraine will engage seriously this time and seize the opportunity for a peaceful settlement of the crisis,” he concluded.
