The primary negotiator for the Kremlin in peace discussions with Ukraine referenced the Great Northern War of 1700-1721 on Friday to illustrate that Russia is prepared to persist in its conflict with Ukraine for an indefinite period.
Following Russia’s first direct negotiations with Ukraine in three years, Vladimir Medinsky expressed that Moscow was “pleased with the outcomes and open to further discussions.” He drew historical comparisons to the 18th-century conflict where Tsarist Russia assembled a coalition to confront Sweden’s influence in the Baltic Sea.
“The Great Northern War against Sweden continued for 21 years. Twenty-one years. Yet just a few years into it, Peter the Great proposed peace to Sweden. How did the Swedes respond? They said, ‘No, we will fight until the last Swede,’” Medinsky remarked in an interview with pro-Kremlin host Yevgeny Popov.
Earlier on Friday, Oliver Carroll from The Economist cited a “well-informed source,” indicating that Medinsky remarked in the negotiating session, “We do not desire war, but we are prepared to combat for one, two, three years — however long it takes. We battled Sweden for 21 years. How long are you willing to fight?”
“Perhaps some individuals present at this table will suffer the loss of more loved ones. Russia is ready to engage in fighting indefinitely,” Medinsky reportedly stated during the discussions, which lasted just over 90 minutes.
Rossiya 24 host Popov confirmed that the Great Northern War was indeed mentioned during the Istanbul negotiations.
He also validated reports that Russian negotiators threatened to take control of the northeastern Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv and Sumy, in addition to the five regions already annexed by Moscow, if their demands were not met.
“With regards to the Russian statements during the negotiations, one of our sources confirmed that a member of the Russian delegation indeed said: ‘If the four new Russian regions are not recognized soon, next time there will be six’,” Popov stated during a television appearance.
“We can verify that this statement was made during the discussions,” he added, referring to unnamed sources.
A Ukrainian diplomatic official informed AFP on Friday that Russian negotiators insisted on Ukraine relinquishing territories still under Kyiv’s control.
“Russian representatives are presenting unacceptable demands… such as requiring Ukraine to withdraw its forces from significant portions of the territory it controls to initiate a ceasefire,” the official told AFP.
Following Friday’s negotiations, both Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.
Additionally, negotiators from both sides discussed the potential for a ceasefire and the possibility of a meeting between their respective leaders.
AFP contributed to this report.
