Lavrov details failed Istanbul talks proposal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has detailed a failed diplomatic proposal from mid-2025 aimed at restarting negotiations with Ukraine. He stated that at a meeting in Istanbul in July, Russia proposed raising the level of delegations and forming three working groups on humanitarian, military, and political issues, addressing Ukrainian complaints that talks were too narrow. According to Lavrov, Ukraine waited until November before stating it was no longer interested in the proposed format. The comments provide Russia's narrative on the breakdown of talks, contrasting with recent Ukrainian statements about being open to dialogue.