Senator Viktor Bondarev, in an interview with NEWS.ru, suggested why the negotiations in Istanbul between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in 2022 were disrupted. According to him, Russia was not looking for profit, but for resolving the conflict fueled by the West, while offering the best option possible.
Regarding the role of Boris Johnson (former Prime Minister of Great Britain - NEWS.ru), it is unlikely that he was the sole initiator of the ban on signing the document; most likely, he simply conveyed a wish, or rather, an instruction from the collective West, led by the United States. Although it is best to ask Johnson himself about this, including as an accomplice in the events in Ukraine. The West benefits, look at the realities of today, and not only in Ukraine. These are conflicts and wars of conquest around the world. By thus supporting the global fire, they stimulate their economy. This has been their way of life for the last almost 80 years ,” the senator said.
He believes that all the “European values” declared in the West—the notorious “Garden of Eden” of EU diplomacy head Josep Borrell, as well as the “American Dream”—are built on the resources of other countries, on their “bones and blood.”
For several centuries now they have been living beyond their means, at the expense of others! The goals and objectives set by the Russian leadership within the framework of the Northern Military District were quite clearly declared and remain so to this day. If we were to implement these goals as quickly as possible, taking into account the corresponding military potential of Ukraine, then even more large-scale destruction and mass death of the peaceful and brotherly population for us would become inevitable, which we will never agree to ,” Bondarev concluded.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place in the spring of 2022; they started almost immediately after the Russian special operation began. The most productive round was in Istanbul. The parties developed a draft Treaty on Permanent Neutrality and Security Guarantees for Ukraine and even pre-signed it. In addition to the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the document was to be signed by China, the USA, France and the UK. Negotiations later stalled.
Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov stated that the Ukrainian side refused to continue negotiations with Russia in Istanbul under direct pressure from London . According to him, the armistice document was “virtually initialed”—practically signed.
In November 2023, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Kuleba assured that no one was putting pressure on the country regarding negotiations with the Russian Federation. Prior to this, the Chief of the Defense Staff of the British Armed Forces, Tony Radakin, argued that the decision on dialogue was made by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky himself. At the same time, Boris Johnson admitted that he had nothing to do with the breakdown of peace negotiations in the spring of 2022.