Current Digest of the Russian Press, Vol. 77, No. 20 – Table of Contents

ALLIES ISSUE ULTIMATUM FROM KIEV: RUSSIA AGREES TO 30-DAY TRUCE OR SUFFERS NEW SANCTIONS; PUTIN COUNTERS: ADDRESS CONFLICT’S ‘ROOT CAUSES’ VIA TALKS IN ISTANBUL ‘WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITIONS’

(By Gleb Ivanov. Argumenty i fakty, May 14, 2025, p. 2. Condensed text:) [Russian President] Vladimir Putin has suggested that the Kiev authorities hold direct talks on Ukraine without any preconditions. They could take place as early as May 15 in Istanbul. On May 10, leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Poland visited [Ukrainian President] Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev. Together, they essentially put forward an ultimatum to Moscow – [accept] an immediate 30-day truce or the introduction of new tough sanctions. Moscow responded on the same day…

NG: PUTIN, ZELENSKY SEEK TO INFLUENCE TRUMP BY ONE-UPPING EACH OTHER; ZELENSKY’S LATEST OFFER OF TOP-LEVEL MEETING CREATES ‘WOW EFFECT’ BUT DOES NOT ACTUALLY REDUCE DISTANCE ON ISSUES

(Nezavisimaya gazeta, May 14, 2025, p. 2. Complete text:) Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has publicly stated several times in recent days that he is ready for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. After the Russian leader urged the Ukrainian side to meet on May 15 in Turkey and start negotiations without preconditions, Zelensky indicated his desire as follows: “I will be waiting for Putin this Thursday in Turkey. Personally.” He later said he hoped Donald Trump would participate as well. The American president claimed he “would fly there.”…

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SOURCES: BEYOND DOUBTS OF KIEV’S GOOD FAITH, TALKS HAMPERED BY DIVERGENT VIEWS OF LAND – MOSCOW WON’T ACCEPT UKRAINIAN ‘OCCUPATION’ OF NEW CONSTITUTIONAL TERRITORIES

(By Semyon Boykov, Irina Gorbunova and Kirill Fenin. Izvestia, May 15, 2025, p. 1. Condensed text:). . . For the first time in three years, Russia and Ukraine may resume direct negotiations on the settlement of the conflict. Representatives of the countries are expected to meet on May 15 in Istanbul, where the previous cycle of contacts was disrupted in 2022. Moscow has repeatedly stated its readiness for dialogue with Kiev without preconditions. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Russia intends to discuss both political and technical issues with Ukraine…

UKRAINE SENDS UAF OFFICERS TO ISTANBUL TALKS; MEDINSKY SAYS THEY MAY ‘LOSE EVEN MORE LOVED ONES’; EXPERT: PRISONER EXCHANGES ASIDE, RUSSIA IS POSTURING WHILE ZELENSKY SEEKS EU SUPPORT

(By Natalya Glukhova. Novaya gazeta Europe, May 16, 2025, https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/05/16/ni-u-odnoi-storony-net-20-let-v-zapase. Condensed text:) For the first time since spring 2022, direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul. It seems that no one expected any special results from the meeting in the Dolmabahce Palace: The delegation headed by Vladimir Medinsky that Vladimir Putin eventually sent to Turkey was considered a “sham” by Vladimir Zelensky…

INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE CHARGES EKSMO STAFF MEMBERS WITH EXTREMISM FOR DISTRIBUTING LGBT PROPAGANDA TO MINORS; EKSMO: WE HAVE ALWAYS OPERATED WITHIN LEGAL FRAME AT ANY GIVEN TIME

(By Yelena Balayan, Andrei Tumanov and Yelizaveta Krylova. Izvestia, May 16, 2025, p. 7. Condensed text:) According to the [Russian] Investigative Committee (IC), over 1,000 copies of books containing LGBT (a movement designated extremist and banned in Russia) propaganda were seized during searches at Eksmo Publishing House. The committee said that these books were being actively sold and falling into the hands of teenagers, among others. A criminal case on extremism was opened against three people, and their arrest files are being prepared. Sources tell Izvestia that investigators had questions for the Popcorn Books and Individuum divisions of Eksmo, which release books in the 18+ category. Experts say that the situation could deal a blow to the publisher’s reputation and lead to restrictions on its products. The accused could face up to 10 years in prison…

SHAVLOVSKY: WHILE RUSSIAN CULTURE IS BEING ‘HELD HOSTAGE BY FOOLS,’ IT HAS NOT LOST THE BATTLE; BOOK INDUSTRY CAN’T RISK OPEN UNITY, BUT CAN FIGHT IN THE CULTURAL UNDERGROUND

(By Konstantin Shavlovsky. Republic.ru, May 18, 2025, https://republic.ru/posts/115716. Condensed text:) The media spent all of last week writing about the “publishers’ case.” Charges of “involvement in the activities of an extremist organization” were filed against several current and former managers at Individuum, and they were placed under house arrest. . . …

(By Darya Garmonenko. Nezavisimaya gazeta, May 15, 2025, p. 1. Condensed text:) The Russian Federation Communist Party (RFCP) is trying to solve its imbalance problem among the electorate. For many years, it has been a male party, but women are traditionally more active voters. A Communist ally, the All-Russian Women’s Union – Russia’s Hope, is holding a congress on May 16 where [RFCP leader] Gennady Zyuganov is expected to speak. . . .

NG has learned that 160 delegates from 80 regions will gather at the Russia’s Hope congress to discuss the role and prospects of women in society. Most likely, RFCP State Duma deputy Nina Ostanina will be reelected as the organization’s leader…

(Story by Andrei Pertsev. Translation by Kevin Rothrock. Meduza, May 16, 2025, https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/17/bending-with-the-wind. Complete text:) Editors’ Note. – In September 2021, the Noviye Lyudi [New People] party won enough votes to claim seats in the lower house of Russia’s parliament, despite being founded just 18 months earlier. For the first time in 15 years, five parties secured representation in the State Duma instead of the usual four. Created with the Kremlin’s backing, Noviye Lyudi was designed to attract the liberal urban electorate. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 [see Vol. 74, No. 8, pp. 9 – 13], the party has clung to its image as the home of so-called common sense voters. Its lawmakers avoid endorsing the war but also steer clear of opposing it. They campaign against migrants, advocate lifting bans on various social media networks and go to great lengths to transform their initiatives into viral sensations. Meduza special correspondent Andrei Pertsev explains how Noviye Lyudi’s liberal image clashes with its consistent support for the Kremlin’s key legislation.

About a month ago, liberal and opposition-leaning Russians began reposting a video featuring a young woman wearing a black kokoshnik (a traditional Russian headdress) criticizing an initiative gaining momentum in several regions of the country to offer financial payments to schoolgirls who choose to carry their pregnancies to term. What struck viewers most wasn’t her unusually strong language for today’s political climate – or even her headdress – it was the fact that she is a federal lawmaker. Many regarded Ksenia Goryacheva’s remarks as sensible and highly uncharacteristic of a deputy in the State Duma, where most legislation typically expands prohibitions and promotes “traditional values.”…

(By Yelena Mukhametshina. Vedomosti, May 13, 2025 https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2025/05/13/1109860-putin-o-vozvrate. Complete text:) [Russian President] Vladimir Putin said that he is being approached by representatives of big business from Western countries that would like to return to Russia. The president stressed that it is necessary above all to understand whether the companies’ return would be beneficial to Russia. He said this at a meeting with participants in the 20th congress of Business Russia.

The president said it is essential to consider how Western businesses that left after 2022 [when Russia invaded Ukraine; see Vol. 74, No. 8, pp. 9 – 13 – Trans.] and now want to return have been behaving. “Of course, we need to assess how each company behaved. Some were outright rude and insulting – well, good luck to them,” the president said. If a business has financed the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), an apology “is clearly not enough,” Putin said. “I highly respect them (European and US business representatives – Ed.). They are very serious, competent [and] pragmatic people. They cover all the bases. They know how to achieve their goals. They are really formidable competitors. You tell them, ‘Apologize,’ [and] they will apologize tomorrow. If they need to reenter our market, [they will do] just about anything – they will come and smother you with kisses. That is not enough,” the president stressed…

(By Darya Garmonenko and Ivan Rodin. Nezavisimaya gazeta, May 14, 2025, p. 1. Condensed text:) Nearly all State Duma deputies from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) faction led by Leonid Slutsky have put their signatures on a bill allowing the legalization of foreign diasporas in Russia with ethnic and cultural autonomy (ECA) status. . . .

State Duma members commented on the LDPR-proposed ECA concept without the usual antimigrant rhetoric, which, incidentally, the party itself habitually uses. . . …

(By Leonid Khairemdinov. Krasnaya zvezda, May 12, 2025, p. 1. Complete text:) On the eve of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, distinguished participants in the special military operation were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation – the highest title in the country.

[In a ceremony] at the Russian National Defense Control Center, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov presented the Gold Star medal to Russian military personnel who demonstrated courage and heroism while fulfilling their military duty during the special military operation [in Ukraine]…

(By Dmitry Taratorin. Nezavisimaya gazeta, May 14, 2025, p. 5. Condensed text:) The Belarussian opposition continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Anzhelika Melnikova, speaker of the opposition’s Coordinating Council (CC) [see Vol. 77, No. 14, pp. 16 – 17]. It has been confirmed that she withdrew more than $150,000 from the shared account for her personal needs. . . .

The opposition CC, which supporters initially considered the “proto-parliament” of the new Belarus, should soon identify its [new] speaker. The former head of this body, Anzhelika Melnikova, lost her status according to the CC’s charter on May 13, because by that time she had not performed her duties for exactly three months…

(By Fyodor Lukyanov, research professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. Rossiiskaya gazeta, May 13, 2025, p. 5. Complete text:) The May 9 [Victory Day] celebrations and the military parade on Red Square [see Vol. 77, No. 18 – 19, pp. 8 – 11] caught everybody’s attention, although there was no shortage of other events happening at the same time. The reason for that was simple: It was more than just a parade. It was Russia’s statement regarding the current state of global affairs. One of the world’s leading countries clearly stated its position – and such events always draw a response from others, whether they agree or disagree.

On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Russia highlighted the fact that it was indeed a world war. In other words, it affected the whole world and paved the way to a whole new world order. And I am not just referring to the establishment of the UN – even though that was certainly the most important political outcome at the time. The end of World War II signaled the end of the colonial era. It is no coincidence that the decolonization process picked up the pace significantly after 1945. Over the next 30 years, the colonial system all but disappeared, and dozens of new countries emerged on the global political arena. Not all of them have been uniformly successful and consistent in their development – but still, their emergence brought about profound changes in the global landscape…

(By Albert Kalashian. Izvestia, May 14, 2025, p. 4. Complete text:) Donald Trump is on an international trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. While in Riyadh, the US president will take part in a summit of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). He will discuss the possibility of a nuclear agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia, as well as normalization of relations between the kingdom and Israel. A number of major business deals will be signed during the visit. The leaders will probably discuss the Ukraine crisis as well. The US president mentioned earlier that he might travel to Istanbul after his trip, where Russian and Ukrainian delegations are scheduled to meet on May 15 [see the first feature, above].

US President Donald Trump decided that the first international trip of his second term should be to the Middle East – to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. The trip is not a purely diplomatic one; a number of major business deals will be signed on the sidelines as Washington seeks to revive its ambitious plans for the region…

(By Aleksei Tarkhanov. Kommersant, May 15, 2025, p. 6. Complete text:) Editors’ Note. – On the evening of May 13, French President Emmanuel Macron took part in a broadcast on the TV channel TF1 titled “France’s Challenges,” spending three hours answering questions from journalists, politicians and bloggers. Kommersant’s France correspondent, Aleksei Tarkhanov, has followed the interview and the reactions to it.

The discussion began on a topic that has not stopped making headlines: the war in Ukraine and the potential top-level meeting on Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky [see the first feature, above]. Emmanuel Macron mentioned that US [President] Donald Trump, who is visiting the Middle East [see the previous article, above], may join them. [Macron] said that he did not have information on whether Vladimir Putin would be present, but he reminded the audience what shared objective European countries had: to achieve “a 30-day ceasefire on land, in the air and at sea, in order to have a chance to discuss territorial issues and security guarantees.”…