EVERYTHING UNACCEPTABLE FROM THE START Ukraine and Russia conclude talks in Istanbul

(Patria) - Direct talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul have concluded, a source from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.

Russia presented demands that are unrealistic and go beyond anything that has ever been a topic of negotiation, a source from Ukrainian diplomacy stated after today's talks in Istanbul.

According to this source, among the Russian demands is the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from its own territory as a condition for a ceasefire.

He added that there were other demands that are, as he put it, "unacceptable from the start."

This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides in three years, and it lasted just over an hour.