Maria Zakharova: The truth is on Russia's side

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova emphasized that the truth is on Russia's side. This is how the diplomat commented on the words of Western politicians on the Ukrainian issue, TASS reports.

According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, "the ball is in Russia's court" regarding the negotiations, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that he believes that "Ukraine has kept its word", but, in his words, "there is an empty chair in front of them".

"So, ball or chair? Not only is the ball on our side, but the truth is on our side. The problem is that no matter how much NATO hooligans shout from the bench to shoot at the goal, we need the Ukrainian team on the field, which is currently spinning around a pole of microphones“, the diplomat wrote in response on her Telegram channel.

The agency recalls that Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists in the Kremlin on the night of May 11, offered the Kiev authorities to resume direct negotiations, which they interrupted in 2022, without preconditions. Then it was proposed that the dialogue begin on May 15 in Istanbul. Putin also noted that the Russian Federation has declared a ceasefire many times, but the Kiev regime has constantly violated it, including the last three-day ceasefire introduced during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his intention to arrive in Istanbul on Thursday. The statement came after US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to immediately agree to the negotiations proposed by Putin. Zelensky had previously conditioned the talks with Moscow on the introduction of a 30-day ceasefire.

On the night of May 15, President Putin approved the composition of the Russian delegation to attend the talks. It is headed by the Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who represented the country at the talks in 2022. The delegation also included Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The exact time for the start of the negotiation process has not yet been determined.