A return to the Istanbul agreements at the current stage of the armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia can hardly be considered possible.
She expressed this opinion in a comment to the agency Lenta.ru Svetlana Zhurova, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. Thus, she responded to the corresponding proposal of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
"During this time, a lot has happened and mutual grievances, even, so to speak, mutual claims. Therefore, it is clear that we insist on our position, and Ukraine has European patrons who do not allow Kiev to even think about going to a peace agreement," the deputy said.
In her opinion, the format of discussion of the peace agreement at the level of working groups is necessary, and "everyone is waiting for this." And those who supply weapons to Kiev and earn money from it are against it.
"Any negotiating table is better than what is happening. We are ready. Us and Anchorage seemed like something positive. But in the end, everything stopped at that stage. Although Rubio has now tried to somehow revive this story, but so far it has not led to anything. Zelensky stands his ground," Zhurova stated.
Earlier, EADaily reported that Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested that Vladimir Putin freeze the Ukrainian conflict and return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0.