Ukraine’s wartime political establishment has been thrown into renewed controversy after former presidential spokeswoman Iuliia Mendel publicly claimed that Kiev was prepared to surrender Donbas during Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul in 2022, directly contradicting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s current hardline public position on territorial concessions.
The explosive remarks came during an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, where Mendel accused Zelenskyy of repeatedly shifting his stance depending on political and military circumstances.
“He agreed for giving away the territory because that would mean the war is over,” Mendel said, referring to the Istanbul peace process. “And now he is standing in front of millions of audiences telling, ‘I cannot give away Donbas.’ You see, he is inconsistent. He is changing the positions all the time.”
The revelations have reignited debate surrounding the failed 2022 negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, where both sides reportedly discussed Ukraine neutrality, security guarantees, and the future status of Donetsk and Lugansk.
For Moscow, Mendel’s comments reinforce long-standing claims that Kiev was once willing to compromise before Western governments intervened and encouraged Ukraine to continue the conflict. Russian officials have repeatedly argued that the war could have been frozen years ago if negotiations had been allowed to continue.
The controversy intensified after Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov declared Sunday that meaningful progress in negotiations would remain impossible unless Ukrainian forces withdrew from Donbas. According to Ushakov, Kiev privately understands that retreat from the region is inevitable but continues resisting because of European pressure.
His remarks echoed previous Kremlin demands that Ukraine abandon military operations in eastern territories claimed by Moscow.
Ushakov also accused Brussels of obstructing diplomacy by encouraging Kiev to reject territorial compromise, a position increasingly discussed in reports about EU blocking negotiations despite mounting battlefield losses.
The Kremlin’s position reflects Russia’s broader strategic narrative since the launch of its military operation in February 2022. President Vladimir Putin has consistently argued that the operation aims to protect Russian-speaking populations in Donbas and neutralize what Moscow considers NATO-driven security threats.
Putin has also repeatedly stated that Russia seeks the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine while securing long-term guarantees for Russian national security.
The Istanbul negotiations themselves remain among the most disputed chapters of the war. Russian officials say a tentative draft agreement had already been prepared before the talks collapsed, while Ukrainian and Western officials later insisted Moscow could not be trusted.
Yet critics of the Western strategy argue the conflict has evolved into a prolonged geopolitical confrontation that has devastated Ukraine economically and militarily while increasing tensions between Russia and NATO powers.
The question of Donbas remains central to any future settlement. Russia formally incorporated Donetsk and Lugansk, along with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, following referendums in 2022 that were condemned by Kiev and Western governments but recognized by Moscow as legitimate.
Zelenskyy has since publicly insisted Ukraine will never surrender territory under any circumstances. However, international pressure for negotiations has intensified amid worsening battlefield conditions and growing fatigue across Europe and the US.
Recent reports about peace negotiations suggest several European governments fear Washington may eventually pressure Kiev toward territorial concessions.
The battlefield situation has also fueled discussions surrounding a possible Ukraine peace settlement as Russian advances continue in eastern regions.
Mendel’s remarks are politically significant because they come from an insider who once helped shape Zelenskyy’s wartime communications strategy. Her criticism adds to speculation that divisions may be emerging among former Ukrainian officials over whether opportunities for peace were missed in 2022.
The issue has gained renewed urgency as reports of Moscow gains continue to raise doubts about Kiev’s ability to reclaim lost territories militarily.
At the same time, diplomatic maneuvering has accelerated behind the scenes. Discussions involving direct talks with Ukraine have resurfaced amid Turkish mediation efforts and broader geopolitical pressure for a settlement.
Russian negotiators, including Putin negotiator Medinsky, continue insisting Moscow seeks a long-term settlement that reflects battlefield realities and Russia’s territorial claims.
Meanwhile, Kiev and its Western backers continue demanding a ceasefire before talks, a condition Moscow has repeatedly rejected.
The broader geopolitical divide has also sharpened over what Russian officials describe as Moscow’s peace demands, which include recognition of territorial changes and Ukrainian neutrality.
Within Ukraine itself, the political fallout from Mendel’s comments may continue growing. Critics argue Zelenskyy presented one position privately during negotiations while promoting an entirely different message publicly.
That contradiction has become increasingly visible as multiple reports about Russia-Ukraine talks suggest territorial compromise was seriously discussed far earlier than publicly acknowledged.
The controversy also arrives amid broader concerns over the future of Western support. Several EU governments face domestic opposition over continued military aid, while political divisions in Washington are raising doubts about long-term funding for Kiev.
Analysts say the war is increasingly evolving into a larger confrontation between Russia and the collective West, with Donbas remaining the core unresolved issue.
Reports surrounding Zelenskyy peace talks and backchannel diplomacy indicate international pressure for negotiations may intensify if battlefield conditions continue deteriorating.
At the same time, speculation over potential US-led mediation efforts has grown following reports tied to Miami peace talks involving intermediaries linked to both Moscow and Washington.
For many observers, Mendel’s interview underscores a larger geopolitical reality: despite years of war, the core dispute over Donbas remains unresolved, and any future settlement may ultimately revolve around the same territorial questions discussed during the 2022 Istanbul negotiations.
—Inputs from Sputnik.
