Russia unwilling to move TCG venue to Istanbul, preferring to choose among Moscow, Donetsk, Luhansk

At the latest meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, neither Ukraine nor Russia changed their negotiation strategies under the influence of external factors.

Such an opinion was expressed by Ukraine’s delegate representing certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADLR) in the TCG, Serhiy Harmash.

"Today's TCG meeting was one of the calmest I can recall. And probably the shortest one – only three hours ... nothing serious was agreed. It is not observed that the negotiating strategy of Russia or Ukraine has changed under the influence of external factors," Harmash wrote on Facebook.

He added that the issues of held persons, the opening of the crossing checkpoints, and the observance of ceasefire remain in limbo due to Moscow’s position.

"Russia is still acting as a ‘mediator,’ while Russia's representatives from the CADLR are posing as ‘delegations.’ Ukraine still doesn’t recognize the CADLR as a party to the conflict and a subject of negotiations," Harmash wrote.

According to the Ukrainian delegate, when discussing Istanbul as a possible venue for offline meetings, "LPR minister" Deynego demanded from Turkey "official documents laying down security guarantees" and, in fact, Turkey's recognition of "DPR/LPR" passports, as not all of their delegation members hold Ukrainian or even Russian passports.

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"In turn, Russia’s representative, without waiting for Turkish guarantees, said that for the Russians, "Istanbul is logistically inconvenient." They “prefer Minsk” or even “cities in Russia or Ukraine, such as Moscow, Donetsk, or Luhansk," added the representative of the CADLR in the Ukrainian delegation.

He noted that the issue of venue, as well as the very possibility of TCG offline meetings, remains open.

As previously reported, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had invited Ukrainian and Russian Presidents, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, to meet in Turkey to discuss differences and resolve the existing issues.

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