Zelensky calls Russian negotiators ‘idiots’
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has lashed out at the Russian delegation taking part in the Istanbul talks, dismissing Moscow’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire to allow the sides to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers.
Following the second round of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev held in Türkiye on Monday, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, proposed a short-term truce in several areas along the front line.
“We want to create the conditions for the bodies to be collected and handed over for Christian burial,” Medinsky stated. He said this would help prevent disease outbreaks and facilitate the dignified collection of the dead.
Zelensky rejected the idea at a Q&A session with Ukrainian and foreign journalists, reiterating his demand for a longer ceasefire.
“They [the Russians] are ready for a ceasefire for two to three days to pick up the dead from the battlefield. I think they are idiots,” he said, arguing that any truce should be aimed at saving lives, not retrieving bodies.
According to Medinsky, Russia has already committed to unilaterally transferring the remains of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and officers. “We have identified all who we could, held DNA tests, and found out who they are,” the Russian presidential aide said.
Zelensky downplayed Medinsky’s position, calling him a low-level official who “does not even understand technical things.” He claimed that these exchanges already occur between Ukrainian and Russian units without any formal agreements or ceasefires. “It just happens,” he said.
He also urged the US to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow to pressure it into accepting Kiev’s demands.
Ukraine has demanded a full ceasefire of at least 30 days as a precondition for any substantive peace talks. The provision was reportedly included in draft proposals submitted during the negotiations, according to Reuters. Russia has rejected the idea, warning that a pause would only allow the Ukrainian forces to regroup and prepare for renewed hostilities.
Zelensky has a history of offensive remarks toward the Russian negotiating team. Ahead of the first round of talks in May, he described them as “a theater prop,” a comment that drew condemnation from Moscow.
