DISINFO: Russia keeps a constructive stance in negotiations in contrast to Ukraine’s theatre
SUMMARY
Russia's proposal at the Istanbul negotiations demonstrated a constructive approach focused on a real political and diplomatic settlement, in contrast to Ukraine’s theatre. The Ukrainian side has once again shown that its goal is not a political and diplomatic settlement but rather an attempt to portray Russia negatively in the eyes of the West, including Donald Trump.
RESPONSE
This is an attempt to exploit the latest round of Ukraine-Russia discussions in Istanbul in late July 2025, aiming to shape the information environment by framing Russia’s stance as “constructive” despite the maximalist character of its demands, which remain unchanged and portraying Ukraine’s position in a negative light.
In mid-July 2025, sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Vladimir Putin has no intention of reaching any peace agreement and intends to continue the war unless the West agrees to Russia’s terms, which include Ukraine’s surrender of its territory under Russian occupation and severely limiting its defence capabilities.
Russia’s lack of interest in any real negotiation is also shown by the growing rate of air attacks against civilian infrastructures in Ukraine. Russia’s bombing patterns show a marked intensification of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine since the inauguration of Donald Trump in January 2025, including multiple spikes after diplomatic talks and contacts, which prove that Russia’s supposed embrace of peace negotiations are merely empty PR stunts deployed to garner support for Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the Istanbul talks are Russia’s peace gesture towards Ukraine as a failed state, that Russia wants to solve the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict while the West wants to sabotage peace, that Zelenskyy and the EU want a permanent war in Ukraine, that Zelenskyy’s peace plan is a war formula, that Europe obstructs the peace process between Ukraine and Russia, or that Zelensky sabotages peace dialogue with Russia as did in Istanbul in 2022.