Russian Delegation To Discuss Political And Technical Issues At Istanbul Negotiations

Yuri Ushakov. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Executive Office of Russia)

JAKARTA - The composition of the Russian delegation will rely on the agenda to be discussed in Istanbul's negotiations with Ukraine, which is expected to discuss political and technical issues, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told VGTRK reporter Pavel Zarubin.

"Delegation needs to discuss political issues and, in my opinion, one billion technical issues," Ushakov said, launching TASS May 14.

"So the composition of the delegation will be determined based on that," he added.

Ushakov did not answer whether he himself was part of the Russian delegation.

"I work here," he said on his way to Russia-Malaysia talks in the Kremlin.

When asked if Istanbul's negotiations could start in the early hours of May 15, the Kremlin aide said with a smile: "I've been thinking about it since the early hours of the morning." Ushakov recalled that Moscow's proposal was to continue the 2022 negotiations "which were suspended by the Ukrainian side over the pressure of Western colleagues and partners."

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin while speaking to reporters in the Kremlin on May 11 suggested that Kyiv authorities continue direct negotiations that Ukraine will stop in 2022 without preconditions.

The Russian delegation will wait for Kyiv representatives on May 15 in Istanbul.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he would attend negotiations in Turkey.