The Russian Foreign Ministry refused to criticize Moscow for conducting peace talks only with Ukraine in Istanbul, and Moscow sent only one second-tier delegation.
According to state-owned news agency Tass, the most qualified experts have been sent to Türkiye.
She said the experts were ready and capable of discussing all topics. “Of course, of course, international law. Of course. Of course. The issue of combat operations is of course.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the delegation as second-rate and asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
It is not clear whether and when the Ukrainians and Russians have had their first direct dialogue in three years. Russian news agency Interfax said the Russian delegation was in the hotel and was waiting for development.
Tass also quoted an anonymous source who reported that negotiations didn't start until Friday.
Vladimir Medinsky, the chief negotiator of the Russian delegation, was regarded as a political lightweight by the West and also participated in the futile negotiations in 2022 shortly after the war began.
Putin has not yet traveled to Istanbul, and Zelensky has not moved forward now.
